What motivated you to enter Chaplaincy as a career?
My father died two weeks after a prostate surgery. He was only 64. I felt life was too short, but it is also a mystery. However, life is beautiful to me, whatever the circumstances may be. I treasured my deep cultural heritage from my father. Chaplaincy is the career I chose to enable me to walk with others what life may bring to them, either joys or sorrows or mysteries.
What's the most challenging part of your work?
The most challenging part of my work is to see a long suffering that some patients have to go through. However, they taught me how to endure the long suffering.
What's the most rewarding part of your work?
Listening to patients' life stories is a special gift for me. When my parents and grandparents were alive, I like to listen to their life stories. A life story is rich with cultural elements, life wisdoms, wit, and personality that make a unique human being.
What do you find to be the most helpful when visiting with a cancer patient?
The most helpful thing when visiting with a cancer patient is coming without any
agenda, but focusing on the patient's needs.
What spiritual or religious resource do you find most personally helpful?
I found out that reading the life stories of others is the most helpful resources. In addition, I also attend a monthly meditation and mysticism lectures that help me to accept life as a mystery.
What personal characteristics do you believe make an effective chaplain?
Although there are many qualities expected to be an effective chaplain, I would like to emphasize simplicity, self awareness, compassion, openness and accept individual as a unique creation of God.
Are there spiritual/religious topics you personally wrestle with?
I am still wrestling with "life is a mystery."
What would you like cancer patients and their families to know about M.D. Anderson?
I would like cancer patients and their families to know that M.D. Anderson treats every patient as a unique human being, body and spirit.
