Although the Human Resources organizational management movement didn't exist in the Middle Ages, I like to think that the seeds of it were alive in some ways in monastic life - everyone motivated to work toward a common goal, the bringing of the Kingdom of God to earth; everyone cared for, nurtured in community, and… Continue reading HR in the monastery
Today's American organizational landscape is arguable still very much a top-down model. From large corporations, to factories, to government structure and hierarchical churches, the pyramid-like shape of the bishop's mitre first the classical management style of many organizations. Although the entrepreneurialism of the 21st century allows many to be self-employed, self-employment today often falls under… Continue reading The bishop’s mitre
Today I am posting a link to my final paper presentation for the course Communicating Mindfully. In it, I use the theory of distance in interpersonal relationship as a tool for relational success in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The paper focuses on the conflict between Elizabeth Bennet and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Catherine can't… Continue reading Can’t see the mountain for the trees
I see today's "monk without a monastery," or "monk in the world," as a champion of dialogue and discernment, who builds community and healing. As I continue my education, it will be my responsibility to take steps to increase my communication ethics literacy for the benefit of my workplace, my family and the world. Communication… Continue reading The dialectical way of life
The night I checked into the hospital to have my first child, I was cared for by a doctor I had never met. She was new to the OB/Gyn practice where I was a patient and I had never had an office visit with her. My optimism at the thought of having my child had… Continue reading Responsiveness in the hospital community
In Communication Ethics Literacy: Dialogue and Difference, the authors discuss the theory developed by Robert Bellah that organization are holders of a "community of memory" (Arnett, Fritz, and Bell, 2009). No organization or individual exists in a vacuum, especially not the Church. The Christian Church has a long history of tradition, or holding the community… Continue reading The community of Church memory and how things change
In our culture of global connectedness, dialogue and opinion, more often opinion, are as widespread as the air we breathe. In communication ethics, "the public arena does not offer the final answer; it is the place where one takes a grounded stance, engages the grounded stances of others, and makes a decision (Armett, Fritz, and… Continue reading Moderated Comments
Interpersonal distance is an important part of ethics in interpersonal communications. You can read more about it in Communications Ethics Literacy: Dialogue and Difference by Arnett, Fritz and Bell, 2009. In the vlog linked below I wish to illustrate the importance of distance in interpersonal relationships by using a clip from the film Pride and Prejudice. It… Continue reading I beg you not to importune me any further
The narrative that guides my life can be summed up in referencing the story of the search for the Holy Grail. This may seem like a big story to throw out there at you as my life's narrative, or it may seem overly cheesy, but I'd like to explain. The Grail legend is a fascinating… Continue reading Search for the Grail
Have you ever thought about how your notion of "the good" is different from someone else's? For years I have studied personality typing. I am a nine on the Enneagram and tend to want to understand the viewpoints of all around me for the sake of connection. I enjoy seeing others' points of view, although… Continue reading The good of me
