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Alexian Village has used the phrase, “the cruise ship that never leaves port” in selected advertisements the past few years. My cruise this year called for a deeper reflection on that phrase.
Imagine a ratio of client to clerk at being 2 to 1. Pretty good odds that service will be important. That’s about the ratio on a cruise ship. The staff cannot do enough to serve you. There is not even a place for you to bring you dirty dishes even if you wanted to do. That’s the staff’s job. Everything is considered, planned and executed very well. Greeting a staff member always brought the same response: “excellent, sir.” After the third day, it’s apparent that training brought that Pavlovian response. I began to question the sincerity and would respond, “are you really excellent?” and then the slight smirk appears suggesting good staff training.
The cruise staff had to put up with us for twelve days. Then, in the early morning hour, we’re rushed ashore while the ship prepares for the next twelve-day passengers. When I think about it, it is not that difficult to tolerate or treat people royally for a short period of time.
Alexian may very well be the cruise ship that never leaves port. Hardly an exotic sight, Milwaukee’s northwest side, but it is home for you as residents and for us as employees. Those meager twelve days on the ship become longer and longer as time moves on here at Alexian. We learn more about each other and we truly celebrate life together. The test of Alexian is that it is more enduring and goes much deeper than time on a cruise ship. We are able to really get to know each other - the pains, successes, disappointments and surprises. As time goes on we learn to put up with each other as well. You put up with me as much as I put up with you; that’s call family.
Alexian becomes a unity that you expected when you moved in. Alexian is based on trust, flexibility and the ability to grow together.
We watch each other grow and we watch each other let go. Part of the excitement of St. Alexius Week was awarding the scholarships to people who are trying to improve and broaden their lives. What a fitting tribute from the contributions received from people who are learning to let go, leave behind and release personal power, little by little. It is the glory of any family to see itself enriched by procreation and growth. We also see the Alexian glory in employees who approach you for the umpteenth time and pretend they’ve seen you for the first time. You are that special and the Alexian philosophy is so strong.
We are a family. We keep trying to be that special vessel we call the “church,” a place where God happily dwells and challenges us. It’s not for twelve days either; it is for a lifetime.
Happy Alexian cruising.
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