Politics as Usual

Interesting to watch the political world from a front row seat here a short distance from D.C. It's also not hard to get quite cynical (or savvy) about how things really work here in the "seat of power". It's been said that the standard operating proceedure of politics is division, distraction and destruction. It's not that far off when you think about it. Our politics are divided into two major parties, there is the constant distraction of "mud slinging" between candidates and parties, and the lack of action on major social issues causes destruction of the infrastructure of the Country (e.g., the current state of the power grid). Politics as usual also leaves our healthcare system in a state of division, distraction and duplication. The episodic nature of the reimbursement system, the individualistic nature of the practitioners coupled with non-integrated health information systems, and the need for every hospital in an area to compete for the same patient types (cardiac, emergent, etc) lead to the outrageous cost of the care provided. Local politicians are courted by health care executives to get favorable allowances on everything. Cartainly, local health systems can improve the economy by creating jobs that are usually very stable and high paying. Because of the return-on-investment and favorable tax profile (most hospitals are IRS non-profit designated), everyone wants a piece of the action. Soon the duplication and distraction are in full swing. The answer to "politics as usual"? We need to have integrators that can take the disparate pieces of the political process and have a "big picture" view of the whole. We need to have a view from Washington that allows for the fact that the current politics don't serve the people well on may if not most areas. We need boundary leaders who can see their way past business as usual and create new connections that defeat SOP. If we don't, there will never be any real healing and we'll stay with politics as usual. Time for something new. Peace for the journey, Dan

Island of Illusion

I'm musing on the Memorial Day on a favorite quote of mine (though I've long forgotten the source), "Ahh yes, Washington, D.C., 37 square miles of illusion surrounded by a sea of reality". Having lived outside our national capital for 20 years has proved over and over again the truth of this statement. Every year at this time, thousands of new college graduates head across the Potomac River seeking access to fame and power (or to the famous and powerful or to become famous and powerful). They come to change the world (or at least America) and to make their mark. Most find that there are no jobs or that those jobs are as Administrative Assistants in an entry-level job far removed from the seats of power. Yet still they come each and every year, like the swallows to Capistrano, hoping for something more than the reality that awaits them. We're really no different in our worldview than the politically minded, are we?! We all have our different islands of illusion. Maybe it's the illusion of individualism (I can do whatever I want as long as no one gets hurt); maybe it's the illusion of invincibility (I can do whatever I choose to my body now and deal with the consequences later); maybe it's the illusion of technology (Whatever I do can be undone by technology that exists now or in the future); or the illusion of ever increasing wealth (no matter what I spend [or we spend as a Country] there will always be more money). Put in whatever pet idol(s) you've created and worship. Idols help us create the illusion that reality does not need to be considered - the idol will make it right. Our collective idolatry (making a "good" thing an "ultimate" thing) has resulted in budget deficits of epic proportion, wars we have started with no hope for cessation, a God-less religion that spiritually feeds fewer and fewer people, a rampant individualism and post-secular worldview that negates the reality of needing to be in relationship - and will likely lead to our destruction. This mindless pursuit of new idols is fostered and fueled by the corporate-industrial complex which requies ever higher profits at the expense of the many for the benefit of the exceedingly few. There is a way around this however - and people of the Book know it. G-d tells us how to be in relastionship with one another. Shows us time and again in varied stories how we as broken humans can be healed and forgiven. How we can get back in touch with G-d and with each other in right relationship. How we can put off worldly illusion for the much larger worldview of reality that leads to life eternal (in this life - not after we die). It's time to discover (or to re-discover) the role of reality in our lives. Reality that can save us from ourselves and our collective insanity. Peace for the journey, Dan

On the Edge

Okay, it has taken me a while (better part of 50 years) to put words to what it is that I'm being called to do with my life. This is not to say that I haven't been doing this all my life (certainly all my professional life) it's just that I never knew what to call it. I have called myself a "facilitator" someone who connects others and creates new entitites. However, that wasn't really the right term as I was actively involved in the systems and interventions that I was helping to facilitate. Gary Gunderson wrote a book a few years ago entitled, "Boundary Leaders: Leadership Skills for People of Faith". In it he describes these "boundary leaders" as those persons who exist at the edges of the known - those who routinely cross the artificial boundaries of humanity to solve problems. He says, "The work of boundary leaders is to align the assets of community with the most relevant science and most mature faith." Yep, that's what I'm up to; and it's why I've had to be out on my own trying to create a living 'cause there ain't no job that fits this description. ;-) Life is lived in areas on the edge, on boundaries. Unfortunately, our healthcare is deliviered in silos because of the episodic nature of the beast that has been created by for-profit insurance companies and policies, and the healthcare-industrial complex. Our lives are incredibly complex and interwoven, thus it is of no great surprise that our simplistic way of studying life has yielded little to no impact on health disparities. We continue to focus our social interventions and research on personal conduct (choices) and family history (genetics). What we end up with then (as Gary Gunderson says) is "...a precise answer to the wrong question. Nothing makes us dumber quicker than that."! Boundary Leaders exist in the tension that accompanies the complexities of life lived. They understand that there are complex and varied social, economic and racial patterns to public health that can not be ignored if we are to solve the myriad health problems that confront us. Where do faith communities come in to this mix? Well, that's just where this Boundary Leader is spending his time and effort. If we can just overcome the artificial boundaries of religious doctrine and (for Christians as an example) follow the boundary leaders of our faith (Jesus the Christ in this example) we have the resources in our congregations to deal with all of the social injustices. At last count, 38,000 different sects acknowledged Jesus as their leader and there are a couple billion persons who identify themselves at least nominally as Christian. Add into this the observant Jews and Muslims (all descended spiritually from Abraham) and one has far more than half of the population of the world who profess a belief in the distributive justice of the one true Creator G-d! Following the teaching of these great boundary leaders will allow us to finally realize the world as G-d intends it. This weekend, take a close look at your community (both faith and secular). Where are the areas of social injustice that you are called to intervene? Maybe you'll be called like me to re-invent the healthcare system with an eye towards distributive justice. If so, let's get started. Peace for the journey, Dan

Connections

It's funny how I have to learn some things over and over. You'd think that by the time a person is turning 50 that they might have learned some essential points about living. Well, I certianly have, but somethings just keep hammering me over the head until I say ok. It's like the old Jewish teaching between a rabbi and a student. The student says, "Rabbi, why does it say in Torah that YHWH's words are written on our hearts? Shouldn't YHWH's words be written IN our hearts?" The Rabbi replies, "YHWH has to write the words ON our hearts because our hearts are so hard. The more we learn YHWH's words, the deeper they are etched, until one day they break through the shell into the core." So it is with me and with my learning about the importance of connection. This past weekend was "Change the World" weekend; maybe you participated in it? Churches all over America sent out their congregants into the world to do good deeds. Since it was also Pentecost, the shirts were red in color, and the "fire" burned bright. The importance of the day wasn't the deeds that were done, however, it was the time spent together, connected to each other and to other faith communities, that was truly important. Think about it...in our individualistic world, when does such a thing happen, especially on a large scale? We also confirmed seven young people (2 of whom were baptized as well) yesterday into membership with the church. Connected together with these committed 8th Graders, I had a sense of "rightness" and peace. I felt energized by the work of the Spirit and "knew" that what we were engaged in was right with YHWH. YHWH created us to be in connection to each other and to the larger world. United Methodists talk much about "being in connection" as part of our church's doctrine. However, we tend to fall away from connection to those who are unlike us, who struggle with life, who choose different lifestyles, or who are challenging to be around. Our hearts are indeed hard like the ancient Hebrews who cursed Moses for leading them into the desert, and cursed G-d for giving them manna to eat. It is easy to become disconnected, isn't it? Yet, days like happened this weekend can go a long way to reconnecting us (me). Life would be easier if we could always remember our connectedness to one another. A connection that comes from Creator to each and every one of us. Remembering this connectedness is the key (IMHO) to solving the worlds problems and to finally breaking our hearts of stone. Something to work on this week, I think. Peace for the journey, Dan

Tort Reform Anyone?

OK, I'm not a lawyer and I've got a relatively low opinion of the tort laws that are in place that lawyers are working under. However, it really frosts my nether regions to see the constant T.V. advertisments from "injury" lawyers. You know the ones, "If you've been injured or killed by Drug XYZ, then call us now and we'll try to find you (and us) some money"! Now, I'm sure that you'll forgive my bias as a pharmacist that everything we put into our body has risks and a simple glance at a drug package insert or the PDR should be enough to give anyone pause before ingesting. Having said that, I do believe that in cases where there has been negligence on the part of a prescriber, that tort should play a role in the recovery from injury (or death). Beyond that, however, if one is using an anticoagulant ("blood thinner") whose sole role is to make it easier to bleed (prevent clotting), then if you develop a bleeding event (while taking it appropriately and being monitored equally well) it is an expected adverse effect -end of story. That's not the world we inhabit, however. There must be someone to blame for everything bad or unforeseen that happens to us. Even if it might be a poor (or uninformed) choice on our part, someone else must be culpable as well. Tort laws make it possible for anyone to seek damages for anything. What confounds me is that both lawyers and persons will go looking for this kind of money to try to gain something from a bad situation. Again, I don't have a problem if there was negligence - but for most of the tort that I see advertised, it is a known risk of taking a chemical into one's body. Now, since about 2 out of 3 elected representatives are lawyers, it is unlikely that there will ever be meaningful tort reform. The March 14, 2012, issue of Forbes magazine had this to say: "The actuarial firm Towers Watson estimates that in 2009 the cost of the U.S. tort system was $248.1 billion dollars, which is nearly 2 percent of U.S. GDP and represents $808 per American. A price tag that high has severe consequences for our economy and U.S. businesses." It goes further, "...As a 2011 U.S. Chamber of Commerce report on tort costs notes, the total transaction costs (the cost of defending lawsuits) for 20 of America’s largest companies that participated in the study increased 112 percent from 2000." Seriously, it's time for all us average Americans to wake up and say no to frivolous lawsuits. There is a need to protect people, but not to the tune of 2% of the GDP. Along with Department of Defense restructuring, this needs to be a priority to allow the U.S. economy to get back on track. Something to think about for your weekend - it's a social justice issue that could free up a lot of cash to do a lot of good. It certainly would be put to better use than lining a bunch of lawyer pockets. Peace for the journey, DAn

Patience and Persistence

I'm musing this morning on the difficulty of discerning truth. Whether it be truth in advertising, truth in the media, truth from my children, or truth within my life, the quest is often daunting and frustrating. We all search for truth in our daily lives. Whether it be in determining political choices, investing time or resources or our gifts in some worth while cause, coming to grips with life choices, we are constantly evaluating input and trying to discern what is true. We want to believe "reputable" sources to deliver truth to us, but we have seen with the rise of the internet that truth can be even more ephemeral than before (e.g., Invisible Children). Some have given up in the search for truth altogether. Others have stated that truth belongs to the individual - "what's true for me is what matters". In the post modern world that we inhabit, the rampant individualism that characterizes this age seems to opt for the least common denominator or the easiest possibility. I shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable not knowing - I can anesthetize mmyself with an easy answer from Google on my smart phone. Don't worry about what is actually true, listen to what I have to say as I tug at your heart strings or constantly repeat the same propaganda until you believe me. Where has the ability to hold the tension of the search for truth gone? We seem to be awash in the quick fix and the sound bite. Where is the content of character which brings the strength of patience and persistence in the face of the unknown? Where is the support for the search for truth? Character comes from believing and living truths bigger than ourselves. It used to come from communities which were populated by principled people. Communities that held each other accountable for the common good. Communities where faith and belief in something ultimate and powerful and mysterious held sway. These communities allowed the time to hold the tension in order to discern the truth. In a world where mysteries are solved in no more than 60 minutes, it is easy to see how we've been mislead to think that finding the truth is quick and easy. What truths are you searching for? What "unknowing" haunts your days and nights? Is it a search for meaning and purpose? Is it a search for belonging and real relationship(s)? Is your search for truth a reaction to living in a sound bite world where everything in reduced to trivia and to individual mandate? The show X-Files used to say, "The truth is out there...", but in order to find it you have to go looking. I believe that you can find your way to the truth, and to the patience and persistence for the journey, in the loving arms of a faith community. Why don't you give one a try this week. Peace for the journey, Dan

Balance

Life seems to always be a balancing act between what we have and what we want. It's also a balance between health, wellness and wholeness and dis-ease. My life right now is out of balance. Over the last two years, things have changed financially due to decisions on my part to start a 501c3, some decisions on my son's part to run afoul of the law (and the subsequent need to hire expensive lawyers), and assorted life issues such as an aging dog who appears to have lymphoma (and associated vet bills to try to manage). This financial imbalance then leads to unbalance in other areas, most especially my relationship with my wife. I find myself wondering, on the cusp of my 50th birthday, is this the law of averages catching up or some foul plan? I haven't come to an answer yet. One thing I do know is that our bodies work best when we balance food, exercise, challenging mind work, sleep and fun. Moving one of those items too far leads to the whole system being out of whack. Once that happens, if nothing changes, then our bodies acclimate to the new "norm" of unbalance. Since our bodies can take a lot of abuse before they break (thank G-d!) we move merrily through life with out paying much attention to the daily damage we're inflicting. Until something happens and the cascade of events is catastrophic. I can't tell you how many hundreds of times I saw this pattern lived out in the intensive care units I was staffing. "He was okay until he came to the hospital!" was a common refrain. Well, this wasn't true. He may have "looked" okay on the surface, but underneath he was a mess. All it took was one major break and the whole house of cards came tumbling down. Balance between all aspects of our life is the key to our journey. Bad or unfortuante things are going to happen to us - it's just the way the world works. This last year of my life has been awful in many ways, but the rest of my life has been better than most people in the rest of the world. While I could spend an inordinate amount of time whining about my "bad luck", I'm instead trying to see what wisdom/life lessons I can pull from this part of the journey. How can I begin to relate better to my family? How can I focus on the good instead of the difficult? Where is G-d in all this trial and travail? This week, take a look at your life and where you might be out of balance. Maybe it's excessive work; maybe it's overuse of alcohol; maybe it's other risky behaviors like not seeing a physician regularly (my current issue) for prevention and monitoring; you fill in the blanks. Make a promise to yourself and important others to do something about this/these imbalance(s). You'll be quite glad that you did. Peace for the journey, Dan

Unknowing

Kind of a funny English word, isn't it - unknowing? Does this mean to unlearn or to forget what we know? Perhaps it means that there is much still that we do not know? In the 14th Century, an unknown (!) monk wrote a classic spiritual treatise called "The Cloud of Unknowing". In it he posits that the spiritual journey is towards a state of mind that allows that though we might get quite close to knowing G-d, we will never reach that point of understanding; there will always be a "cloud" between us and G-d. Since we can not "know" G-d, we must become at peace with our "unknowing" and continue to strive to be as open as possible to whatever G-d has in mind for us. Unknowing isn't popular these days - and I'm sure it wasn't in the centuries past. Humans always want to know the reason behind the things that occur. Why does the weather do like it does? Why do people make the choices they do? How do you make marshmallows? The list of things to be known is endless - as is our pursuit of answers. In my professional space, it is tantamount to malpractice for me not to know something (or at least to not be able to find an answer). Not knowing is simply not tolerated. Science continues to discover things and those discoveries continue to push back the frontier of what is known and what is unknown. Some humans believe that one day we will know everything that can be known...but what will we do then? William Booth once said, "Consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century (that was the 20th) will be religion without the Holy Ghost (Spirit), Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell." What he was saying is that in our certainty that we humans are the end all and be all, we will leave behind the mystery and faith in something larger than ourselves. We have seen his prophecy come to pass and in order to get away from continuing this path, we must become humble again (or maybe for the first time). This week, consider what it is that you don't know about G-d and your relationship with G-d. Consider that the ability to not know can be quite freeing and allow you to just "be" in the presence of the Creator without needing to "do" anything. Free your mind and heart and allow G-d to do what G-d is wanting to do in your life. It will be transformative! Peace for the journey, Dan

Both...And

The human condition is competitive. Whether it is in sports or in everyday life, we are seemingly always competing for things. Our children learn early that competition is healthy and brings all the creature comforts that the world says they need to be truly happy. The Olympic Games come on the T.V. and it's all about who's first, no one talks to the Olympian who comes in 8th out of 8 in the finals (even though they are better than everyone except 7 persons in the world at their sport). It appears on first glance that it is and either-or world...either you're first or you're last. This kind of competitive (exclusionary) thinking leaves a lot of people out of the competition. There are neighborhoods in the U.S. where 50% of the kids don't graduate from High School. I live in a place where I don't know anyone who's child not only graduates from High School, but graduates with multiple AP courses completed and a choice of Ivy League colleges competing for their time and money. Is that really what we were created for?! The G-d that I follow works out of a principle of distributive justice - all good things for all G-d's people. It is a principle of both...and; my wife likes to say "have my cake and eat it too". That's how G-d works when we get out of the way. How is it that we live in a created world and have gotten so far away from sharing equally in all that we have been gifted with? When we survey all of the social injustice that humans have created against each other, it is a wonder that we have been able to live at all. Case-in-point, look at the amount of money we spend each day on healthcare in the U.S. Those with more money or better jobs (likely due to better education secondary to living in better neighborhoods) get adequate or designer healthcare. Those who are less fortunate, well, they get whatever they can find and afford. The American Hospital Association says that there's no way they can follow the new governmental guidelines to help people post-discharge take care of themselves - too costly and too difficult. Either/or or Both/and...? What's the best solution for all of us? We have a world full of either/or, but G-d calls us to both/and. How about you? What's your life narrative? Are you running a competitive race or are you thinking that there's something more that you're called to? Over the course of the next bit of time, consider which of the social injustices taht you're being called to address. Remember, G-d calls us into relationship...into both/and. Peace for the journey, Dan