Advancing Chaplaincy: Volunteer of the Month for Jan/Feb 2009
Name:
Brother Ed Smink, Ph.D. (ABD)
Work:
I am vice president of mission and compliance for Dubuis Health System in Houston, TX, a division of CHRISTUS Health. I oversee mission, ethics, spirituality and chaplain services in 14 hospitals with 16 sites.
NACC member since:
1987
Volunteer service:
I have served as an assistant regional director of NACC, on the planning committee for the joint committee of NACC and APC Albuquerque Assembly, on the NACC mission, vision, and values reorganization committee, and now I serve on the Care and Standards task force and the joint NACC/CHA task force.
Book on your nightstand:
Joseph Campbell’s
The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
Book you recommend most often:
A book that I certainly would recommend for all chaplains is:
The Art of Theological Reflection, by Patricia O’Connell Killen and John De Beer.
Favorite spiritual resource:
As I continue to work on my dissertation, I am drawn to understand more fully the fact that our work, accomplished along with our many coworkers, is a spiritual practice. This is one of the greatest spiritual insights that I am spending much time in understanding. Somehow, as I reflect in the work that I do as a chaplain and caregiver, I understand more fully the spiritual practice that we as healthcare providers are practicing. Our work is one of the corporeal works of mercy, and the danger in our dualistic culture is to separate work and spirituality. We cannot do this in healthcare as healing is a sacred art in which the divine is discovered.
Favorite fun self-care activity:
One of my favorite selfcare activities is gardening. Thomas Merton used to say, we cannot pray until we get our hands in the soil. Flowers, trees, shrubs, vegetables are part of my Slovak farming tradition.
Favorite movie:
I did a study of archetypes in the movie “Les Miserables” and enjoyed discovering the genius of Victor Hugo.
Favorite retreat spot:
I have attended different men’s retreats in the outdoors and have found them extremely helpful.
Personal mentor or role model:
I have a great friend and a former boss that continues to inspire and coach me.
Famous/historic mentor or role model:
When I read Thomas Merton, I feel at home and that he is a friend and mentor.
Why did you become a chaplain
My journey to chaplaincy began as a nurse at the bedside. I remember caring for a patient who was dying. He had no family. As I was washing him, I noticed he was anxious. He could not speak. During the care, I spoke with him. He knew he was dying. I took his hand and asked him if he would like me to stay with him and asked if he would like me to say a prayer with him. Together we prayed the Our Father. He smiled and shortly afterwards died. No matter what I did as a nurse, I found myself spending more time with patients. Eventually, I became ordained and then certified.
What do you get from NACC?
I love being with chaplains and sharing the stories that each of us has experienced. This is sacred work. These stories have transformed us and experiencing this reminds us how present God and grace are to each of us.
Why do you volunteer
I volunteer to assist NACC because, in reality, NACC is about us. NACC is about each chaplain, CPE supervisor, director or VP at the bedside, in the classroom or boardroom, advocating for the privilege of reminding all in healthcare of its sacred vocation.
Take me back to the main Volunteers page.
