Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 1:01am
'Let us see what love can do'
Column: Executive Soul
"Let us see what love can do." The words that William Penn used to guide his experiment in government in Pennsylvania can also guide us at work. Particularly in healthcare, love can be a powerful force.
For example, at Joseph's House, a home for formerly homeless men and women with terminal illnesses in Washington, D.C., staff, volunteers and residents alike experiment with "what love can do." Love is the motivating force behind the Joseph's House experiment.
Patty Wudel, now director, first came to live at Joseph's House as a volunteer. What motivated her to work all day at her stressful job and then be available half the night for the sick and dying? It was the love she saw manifested there. Patty's first visit to Joseph's House came as the result of an invitation to Sunday brunch from one of the residents. As she sat at the big table and enjoyed the family-style meal with the residents, she knew that this place was different.
Joseph's House stresses compassion and community. Rather than being a charity that gives to people, Joseph's House is a community of people living with people. The family-style meals represent this philosophy. Over time, as Patty noticed the decline in some residents' health, she also observed that they continued to come to meals. When they couldn't feed themselves, other residents would sit next to them at the table and feed them. When they couldn't eat at all, they still would come to meals for the experience of community.
Loving sick and dying formerly homeless people isn't always easy. Creating community among those who live and work at Joseph's House carries many challenges. Yet for the staff and residents, all the difficulties are more than compensated for by the rewards.
"There's a spirituality to the institution. You can feel it when you're in it," claims Patty. "It can be recognized and nourished and met." To nourish the spirituality of Joseph's House, Patty takes staff on retreat days, led by an outside facilitator. As their own souls are nurtured and as they build community as a staff, the spirituality of Joseph's House as an institution is nourished. In Patty's view, "Spirituality is not an add-on to the budget or the program. It's integral to the life of an institution."
Patty is convinced that building a community of justice and compassion at Joseph's House has a ripple effect out into the world: "Just knowing that there are organizations out there struggling to have integrity all the way through them gives others hope and a sense of possibility. It matters very much that we do it, that we not settle for being some little charity on the corner, but that we are really communities of justice and compassion and service in the world, that we take a stand that is much deeper than charity."
"Let us see what love can do." William Penn's words are exemplified at Joseph's House. Joseph's House has experimented with what love can do, and has found love to be one of the most powerful forces around. This Valentine's Day, take as your theme, "Let us see what love can do."
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Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, churches, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. © Copyright 2008 by Margaret Benefiel.
For example, at Joseph's House, a home for formerly homeless men and women with terminal illnesses in Washington, D.C., staff, volunteers and residents alike experiment with "what love can do." Love is the motivating force behind the Joseph's House experiment.
Patty Wudel, now director, first came to live at Joseph's House as a volunteer. What motivated her to work all day at her stressful job and then be available half the night for the sick and dying? It was the love she saw manifested there. Patty's first visit to Joseph's House came as the result of an invitation to Sunday brunch from one of the residents. As she sat at the big table and enjoyed the family-style meal with the residents, she knew that this place was different.
Joseph's House stresses compassion and community. Rather than being a charity that gives to people, Joseph's House is a community of people living with people. The family-style meals represent this philosophy. Over time, as Patty noticed the decline in some residents' health, she also observed that they continued to come to meals. When they couldn't feed themselves, other residents would sit next to them at the table and feed them. When they couldn't eat at all, they still would come to meals for the experience of community.
Loving sick and dying formerly homeless people isn't always easy. Creating community among those who live and work at Joseph's House carries many challenges. Yet for the staff and residents, all the difficulties are more than compensated for by the rewards.
"There's a spirituality to the institution. You can feel it when you're in it," claims Patty. "It can be recognized and nourished and met." To nourish the spirituality of Joseph's House, Patty takes staff on retreat days, led by an outside facilitator. As their own souls are nurtured and as they build community as a staff, the spirituality of Joseph's House as an institution is nourished. In Patty's view, "Spirituality is not an add-on to the budget or the program. It's integral to the life of an institution."
Patty is convinced that building a community of justice and compassion at Joseph's House has a ripple effect out into the world: "Just knowing that there are organizations out there struggling to have integrity all the way through them gives others hope and a sense of possibility. It matters very much that we do it, that we not settle for being some little charity on the corner, but that we are really communities of justice and compassion and service in the world, that we take a stand that is much deeper than charity."
"Let us see what love can do." William Penn's words are exemplified at Joseph's House. Joseph's House has experimented with what love can do, and has found love to be one of the most powerful forces around. This Valentine's Day, take as your theme, "Let us see what love can do."
— — —
Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, churches, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. © Copyright 2008 by Margaret Benefiel.