Every day at work I try to practice courtesy in all of my encounters.  Since I am an upbeat person this comes naturally to me.  It is also part of the culture that is nurtured in our hospital.  I wish I could say being courteous is always easy!  Sometimes I see or hear something that is against what I believe is proper and would love to “speak my mind”.  When this happens before I speak I silently ask myself, “Is what I am thinking really the proper thing to say at this moment?”

I found myself wanting to respond in less than a courteous manner two times today.  I probably would have done so had it not been for the culture of courtesy that is promoted in our hospital.  Being courteous keeps the dialogue open and creates the opportunity for honest sharing.  When courtesy is absent in an encounter, people “hold back” talking to strangers.  Since many people I meet every day are strangers to me, I have to present myself in a manner that allows them to feel safe engaging in conversation with me.

Though courtesy is not nearly as obvious a spiritual discipline as prayer, if I ever want to have the chance to pray with someone, I have to show them I am courteous first.  If I don’t the opportunity for prayer may never happen.