Mastering the Mundane

Mastering the Mundane Hospice Chaplaincy is one of the greatest adventures a Chaplain will ever take. However, with that said, it is not always lively, challenging, or adventurous. It’s work. With every field of endeavor there is the mundane. The mundane are the things that need to be done because they need to be done. What I want to talk to you about today is Mastering the Mundane. I have observed in the religious world of which we are a part, there seems to be a new method to achieve personal success, or a new App for your smartphone that will help you keep track of any number of spiritual matters, or a new commentary that is better than the rest, or a new comprehensive system that takes our to-do lists to a new level. It’s the shiny new things that get us distracted from the main task. In listening to successful Chaplains, business persons, and athletes, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the new and shiny that brings success, it is mastery of the mundane. Here are some mundane matters that if executed at the highest level will dramatically change not only your outlook, but your success in life: • Are you focusing at work? • Is your devotional life connecting you in a deeper way to God? • Do you waste time on the internet? • Do you work on what’s most important? • Are you growing in your chaplaincy? • Are you tracking your time to ensure you are balancing your life? • Are you responding to your emails efficiently? • Do you need to fall more in love with hospice chaplaincy? • Are you managing your physical self well? • Do you pause to pray throughout the day? • What are your routines? How would you evaluate your morning routine? Your evening routine? Certainly, you don’t need to tackle that list all at once, but a bite at a time. Mastering the fundamentals of life is the goal. We will have so much more to offer our patients as we become healthier in each aspect of life.