|
Resident Chaplain Rev. Algernon A. Williams
Change –
A Theological Reflection in a Barack Obama Era
The greatest revolution of our generation is that of human beings, who by claiming the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.
.gif) Marilyn Ferguson
Most individuals agree that change is constant, a constant which functions to balance humanity and existence. This is one aspect which distinguishes process from perception. Perception does not initiate an active set of intercession, but it is the individual’s attempt to examine the nature of the reality through active reflection, using elements of interpretation to achieve the desired outcome.
Change by contrast cannot be separated from the active set of intercession of the interpretation it represents. It assumes that active discipline has been carefully provided at the time of interpretation. Its task is to ensure the method of the reflection, in order to make sure that the individual remains committed to the reflection within its existence.
As hospital chaplains we embrace change on a daily basis. Our patients, their needs, our interactions, and our responsibilities are in a constant state of change. We must remain ever ready and flexible to effectively fulfill our role.
As a chaplain, specifically an African American chaplain, it is unfathomable to think about change without thinking about being a change agent. As an African American male, reared in the southern part of the United States, I have found myself in a constant state of change. The African American has been in a quandary of trying to live a black existence in a society created for whites. This raises the question of how one truly alters their behavior in an environment that does not embrace their ideology. Though whites may pretend that this is not so, change ceases to be change unless it embraces all ideologies from all cultures.
This leads me to a peculiar place within my chaplaincy experience. Each day as I enter the hospital, I fully embrace my professional and spiritual responsibilities to help those in seemingly helpless situations. However as an African American male chaplain I serve as a catalyst of change in an area that is oftentimes overlooked. On numerous occasions, I am the first personal encounter many of my patients have with an African American male. It is during these encounters where real change occurs. Patients share stories about their past and present connections to racism, their limited or nonexistent exposure to African Americans and most significantly, their desire to change their paradigm of understanding those different than themselves.
Change helps channel an individual to his or her own awareness and responsibility of transformation by focusing on personal idiosyncrasies that are not necessary for their existence. We can conclude then that change is critical for living a successful existence. The manifestation of one’s self-reflection is an expression of rebellion because it seeks to eradicate the stagnancies of one’s outlook. In seeking a balanced life that is filled with inconsistencies, it is crucial that one finds safety within the danger of being non-communicable and ascertains the wherewithal to confront the anxiety surrounding the motivation. However, while we live in a world where we are confronted with change daily, hope at times seem non-existent.
This certainly seems to be the conscience of American today as we attempt to make sense and tread through this journey of life. What can you say to a world that continues to suffer from degradation and shame? The condition of America is inflicted with hopelessness and there seems to be no balanced rationale for this condition. The sin of change is that it has not been confronted like it is presently being confronted. I echo the sentiments of President Barack Obama that change has come, that there is call for each individual to participate and for those who have been participating to raise the bar. Every individual must sacrifice themselves to themselves and become passionate towards the quest of personal transformation.
Rev. Algernon A. Williams, M. Div., is a Resident Chaplain at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center in Reading, PA. He is a Ph.D. candidate at The Graduate Theological Foundation (Oxford University, UK) in Systematic Theology, and is the Managing Editor for the Encyclopedia of Identity (in review). Rev. Williams has written several articles across the scope of theology, multicultural studies, and pastoral care. Rev. Williams received his B.S. from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, his M.S. from The Interdenominational Theological Center (Turner Seminary) in Atlanta, GA. He has one son, Rex Ezra.
Do
you have thoughts about professional
practice you’d like to share with your
colleagues? Send an e-mail info@PlainViews.org. |
.gif){kind=spacer}
