Filters

We are at a point of time, various challenges are facing us, as faith based and not for profit organizations.  There is the challenge of “competition” from the corporate and commoditized health and development programs. There is the regulatory frame work which is breathing down our necks, the CEA and the implications of the same. The escalating costs of health care and the challenge it brings in taking care of the poor and the people in need.

Looking ahead, from the political scenario, there could be a situation in the country where a market friendly government and potentially not FBO friendly one, could be in power and this could affect some of our work.

It is in this back ground, we need to think through how we look at the work we are involved in. And also be clear and succinct on why we are doing what we are doing. We could compromise and give in or stand clear holding on to the clarity of what God wants us to do and be and have the courage to live with this clarity on a day today basis.

The normal and logical way is to look at the issues through the filters of “institutional or organizational sustainability”. The competition, cost recovery and corporatization, the clinical establishment act etc. are things we need to respond, through our logical and rational perspectives.

At the same time, if we are to be true to our vision and mission, understanding that we are part of God’s Kingdom, we need to look at issues also with the filter of the Kingdom. The Kingdom filter, will challenge us to look at the issues above through eyes of faith, in addition  to rational perspectives.

The third issue is to understand that, the values we hold on should never be compromised. Which means the filter of values becomes a third perspective and character becomes a key issue in all our decisions we take.

All these three filters are not mutually exclusive but to be seen as complementary, and creative conflicts to live with. Based on these perspectives, we need to look at the day today challenges, how to use these filters, to take decisions.

There might be situations when we are faced with competition and regulatory frame work issues, would we have the courage to say, we will not use our rational frame work, but will look through faith frame work and take steps of even closing down or scaling down for the sake of the bigger picture. If there are value issues in our decisions, would we compromise of stand on our values and then take the risk of facing the consequences?

I need three filters to add on to my current spectacles, the one of rational thinking, the one of faith thinking and the one of values focus.