PRIME International Email - March 2022 - What Is Your Motivation?

“Any questions?”

“Yes…. What is your motivation for teaching us?”

“Ok ..Now would all the tutors on ZOOM like to answer….?”

My answer to the question was something like, “There is a universal need for palliative care throughout the world and I will listen to and teach those who wish to hear. I am motivated by my faith.”

This was a question from a 3rd year medical student in the Islamic University of Gaza. It was a question in the final summary session after 5 mornings teaching case based palliative care to 140 students. It was on a Cairdeas online programme, involving several PRIME tutors each in a personal capacity.  My fellow tutors on ZOOM were from, Uganda, South India, Scotland, England and Tennessee. Each of my Christian colleagues responded answering similarly from four different continents.

We had covered topics of pain, fear, depression, gunshot injury, amputation, dignity and communication and compassion.  We had not explicitly said we were all Christians although some had shown pictures of their church in their personal introductions.  The students at all times had shown courtesy, and talked freely of their faith and culture, humanity, dignity and compassion. Yet I believe even on ZOOM God was actively prompting this fabulous question on our last day.  Our primary aim was to share palliative care principles with students. Yet we all had an opportunity to state our motivation.1

Afterwards I thought. That question was a gift! I wish I had known it was coming and I would have said…...Then I realised what was needed was an authentic spontaneous answer from the heart.

So, in summary we are each called to teach and learn in humility with Jesus as our role model. And be ready to give those who ask us, the reason for our motivation and hope. 2

References:-

1.“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to             

everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”,  (Bible Verse 1 Peter, 3:15, New International Version)

 

2.   Palliative Care teaching tip - The Cairdeas website is a great resource for international palliative teaching materials, guidelines, reports and curricula. (Cairdeas is a Scottish Gaelic word meaning world-wide friendship and fellowship.) www.cairdeas.org.uk

 

 Our thanks to Martin Leiper – PRIME tutor Scotland and member of the PRIME Management Team, for this month's contribution.