The Humble King

Each day this week I plan to give a brief reflection on the events leading up to Easter. Perhaps you can put these up on your staff noticeboards or forward them to your networks as a reminder of the importance of this special time.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the day when we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of what has become known as Holy Week. The people who gathered on the outskirts of Jerusalem were looking forward to someone coming who would get rid of the Romans and provide freedom, democracy and … well, they wanted a better life.

But instead of Jesus coming with a marching band and a red carpet, Jesus borrowed a donkey and its colt that were tied up outside a little pub and he rode this donkey, probably rather awkwardly, into Jerusalem.

While the crowds waved palm leaves and threw them down on the road in front of the donkey (that’s where the term, Palm Sunday comes from), I’m sure they were still a bit mystified how awkward and un-king-like their Messiah looked riding a donkey.

Yet it was this sense of humility that had marked Jesus’ life, was evident now at the time of his entry into Jerusalem, and would continue to be a feature of his death.

Given a similar situation with crowds of people standing by ready to offer acclamation I wonder whether I would choose the donkey or try to find a more fitting means of transport? It’s worth pondering.

A taste of harmony

As part of Harmony Week last week, Baptistcare support staff gathered last Friday to share a meal.

Australian emu and kangaroo, New Zealand pavlova (there could be an argument about that!), Indonesian urap salad, Ghanian bean stew, Malaysian beef rendang, North Lancashire Quaker oat biscuits and Scottish shortbread were among some of the cultural treats enjoyed by staff.

Sampling the home cooked dishes of colleagues brought to light the wide range of cultures which make up our organisation and presented the opportunity to share stories of heritage.

Our Manager of Disability Services, Kwame Selormey described the experience as "a party in your mouth". He said the simple action of sharing a meal can begin to weave people and communities. "One person can create a meal, two people who share that meal can travel to each others' worlds."

Baptistcare's newly formed "Catalyst" group identified the opportunity to celebrate our organisation's cultural diversity. The group has been set up to create changes in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities.

The dream continues

Forty years ago this year a small group of people from Baptist churches came together to begin planning the establishment of homes for the aged in Perth. Their dream reached reality on February 23, 1975 when stage one of the project was officially opened under the name of Gracewood. These first 26 independent units at Salter Point cost the exhorbitant sum (at the time), of $334,000 including furnishings.

This year Baptistcare celebrates 40 years since that first group of people began dreaming together about what could happen. We are now working on our Strategic Plan that takes us to 2016, under the title of "Our Brilliant Future".

As we celebrate the last 40 years we realise we have never stopped dreaming and the dream continues.

Just as a reminder here are our Strategic Objectives:

1. Person-centred services. We must deliver quality, person-centred services meeting the current and future needs of individuals, families and communities;

2. Financial Management. We must optimise the financial performance of the business to ensure a sustainable future and to enable philanthropic activity;

3. People. We must attract, develop and retain people with the right skills and the right attitude;

4. Stewardship. We must manage responsibly the resources and relationships entrusted to our care;

5. Advocacy. We must be an effective voice, advocating positive outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

Are you ready to celebrate?

This year is Baptistcare's 40th anniversary and we are encouraging each of our facilities and programmes to organise an event some time during the year with a 1970's theme. We'll be sending out packs to all areas to help you in planning this event.

In the week commencing March 26 we will be launching our Baptistcare Recognition Awards. This will be a very important part of our 40th anniversary year, because these inaugural awards will be presented at a special gala dinner on September 7.

During the week of the 26th we would like you to hold a morning tea or some opportunity at each Baptistcare facility and programme to launch the awards and make people aware of how they can participate.

There will be six awards, five that are based around our Baptistcare values and one other which is the CEO's award for leadership and advocacy.

This is a year to celebrate. Let's do that by recognising our colleagues who are putting Baptistcare's values into practice in their day to day work.

Are you listening?

Yesterday was our organisational orientation at Margaret River. I am always impressed at the way our people embrace the Baptistcare values and yesterday was no exception with staff there from Mirrambeena (Margaret River), William Carey Court (Busselton) and Hand in Hand South West.

I was challenged again at the thought that being able to contribute to someone's life involves really listening to them - to understand what makes them tick.

Keep up the good work!

Acknowledging chaplaincy

This week I attended the annual dedication service for aged care chaplains. About 30 chaplains, working for aged care organisations in WA, gathered for a special service to acknowledge and support their work.

All of Baptistcare's 11 chaplains (see picture above) from the Perth metropolitan area, Rockingham and Mandurah, Manjimup, Busselton and Margaret River, Albany and Brookton attended the dedication service.

Chaplains serve a unique and significant role within Baptistcare.

They play an important part in helping us to fulfil the holistic nature of our mission, that is to achieve the spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.

One of the unique aspects of chaplaincy that differs from much of the traditional services within the aged and community services, is the ministry of presence. While much of what we do is "doing", the chaplain can make a difference in people's lives by "being".

They are able to offer the peace and presence of God by being with people in times of grief and hardship, listening to people's hurts, their anger, their fears and their doubts, not necessarily answering their questions, but giving them permission to share their innermost thoughts.

To those who serve as chaplains and pastoral carers within Baptistcare, including those volunteers who support the chaplains in their role, we thank you.

What are your regrets?

As we get older it isn't unusual to look back on our lives and consider the great things that have happened to us, and at the same time ponder those things that we wish hadn't occurred.

As an organisation that supports people who have many years behind them, it is helpful for us to understand those regrets and help people (as well as ourselves) deal with these regrets so that we may live the rest of our lives in hope rather than regret.

An article from the UK Guardian tells of the work done by an Australian nurse who recorded the most common regrets of the dying. There weren't too many surprises.

Wednesday 1 February 2012 11.49
A palliative nurse has recorded the top five regrets of the dying. There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. "When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again."

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it."

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
"This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
"Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result."

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
"Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying."

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
"This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again."

Susie Steiner
guardian.co.uk,