Thursday, May 21, 2020
Storing Record Data in a BLOB Field in Delphi
In Delphi, a record data type is a special kind of user-defined data type. A record is a container for a mixture of related variables of diverse types, referred to as fields, collected into one type. In database applications, data is stored in fields of various types: integer, string, bit (boolean), etc. While most data can be represented with simple data types, there are situations when you need to store images, rich documents or custom data types in a database. When this is the case you will use the BLOB (Binary Large Object) data type (memo, ntext, image, etc. - the name of the data type depends on the database you work with). Record as Blob Heres how to store (and retrieve) a record (structure) value into a blob field in a database. TUser record ...Suppose you have defined your custom record type as: TUser packed record   Name : string[50];   CanAsk : boolean;   NumberOfQuestions : integer; end; Record.SaveAsBlobTo insert a new row (database record) in a database table with a BLOB field named data, use the following code: var   User : TUser;   blobF : TBlobField;   bs : TStream; begin   User.Name : edName.Text;   User.NumberOfQuestions : StrToInt(edNOQ.Text) ;   User.CanAsk : chkCanAsk.Checked;   myTable.Insert;   blobF : myTable.FieldByName(data) as TBlobField;   bs : myTable.CreateBlobStream(blobF, bmWrite) ;   try     bs.Write(User,SizeOf(User)) ;   finally     bs.Free;   end; end; In the code above: myTable is the name of the TDataSet component you are using (TTable, TQuery, ADOTable, TClientDataSet, etc).The name of the blob field is data.The User variable (TUser record) is filled using 2 edit boxes (edName and edNOQ)and a check box (chkCanAsk)The CreateBlobStream method creates a TStream object for writing to the blob field. Record.ReadFromBlobOnce you have saved the record (TUser) data to a blob type field, heres how to transform binary data to a TUser value: var   User : TUser;   blobF : TBlobField;   bs : TStream; begin   if myTable.FieldByName(data).IsBlob then   begin     blobF : DataSet.FieldByName(data) as TBlobField;     bs : myTable.CreateBlobStream(blobF, bmRead) ;     try       bs.Read(user,sizeof(TUser)) ;     finally       bs.Free;     end;   end;   edName.Text : User.Name;   edNOQ.Text : IntToStr(User.NumberOfQuestions) ;   chkCanAsk.Checked : User.CanAsk; end; Note: the code above should go inside the OnAfterScroll event handler of the myTable dataset. Thats it. Make sure you download the sample Record2Blob code.
Monday, May 18, 2020
The Low Sense Of Self Esteem - 1548 Words
Starting as children, people are inclined to strive to be socially accepted. With social standards being very difficult to fit into, many people feel as though they do not belong to a set group of people; therefore, they tend to have a lower self esteem which causes them to act out. Being isolated causes one to feel a lack of confidence within themselves because him or her can feel as though they are not wanted and do not belong. This low sense of self esteem affects a person’s motivation and mental health. Social norms can cause people to feel alone and as though they have no one there for them. On the other hand, belonging to a community or a specific group can allow people to feel as though they have a support system, making them feel more confident in themselves and becoming better in their overall life. Feeling accepted and supported by people can increase intellectual activity and boost a person’s self esteem tremendously. Belonging and acceptance increase and dec rease self esteem thus dictating a person’s behavior. Being a part of a community is nearly essential in the process of becoming an adult because during the teenage years people are constantly shaped into who they will be for the rest of their lives. Throughout my kid and teenage years, I have always been a part of a dance team mixed with people my age, and younger or older. Being a part of several teams has made me feel as though I belong to a group and has helped me to gain a better sense of confidence inShow MoreRelatedDevelopment and Importance of Self Esteem Essay1722 Words  | 7 PagesIn Psychology Self Esteem is described as the Value or the level of Self Worth that one associates with him/her self. It is viewed as a resolute and enduring characteristic which often leads to the conclusion that it is a set Personality Trait. Self Esteem usually involves positive or negative recognizance of one’s belief’s, attitude, behaviour, emotions and physical appearance. Many teenagers from every culture, socio-economic bac kground country or community suffer with Esteem issues. The mainRead MoreTaking an Inside Look at Self-Esteem Essay768 Words  | 4 Pagesshatter your self-view? Self-esteem is an important part of personal happiness, fulfilling relationships and achievement. Self-esteem is used to describe a persons overall sense of self-worth. Research has shown key differences between individuals with high and low self-esteem. So what is self-esteem? Ray Baumeister defines it as, â€Å"how you feel about yourself in general†¦ whether you think you are pretty good, so-so, or not so good, overall†(p. 20). Both high and low self-esteem has good and badRead More What Is One Worth? Essay1619 Words  | 7 PagesWorth? In the depths of an individual’s being, lies his or her self-worth. Self-worth molds individuals into who they are, what they want to become. Self-worth lies at the heart of self-esteem. Self-esteem is, Palladino (1994) a blend of â€Å"self-confidence, self-worth, and self-respect. It involves respecting others, [along with] feeling a sense of harmony and peace within yourself†(sec.1p.1). The secret to higher self-esteem is the incentive to take accountability for one’s viewpoints, suchRead MoreSelf Concept Is Our Self Identity Essay1743 Words  | 7 PagesSelf-concept is our self-identity, and is the way that one perceives itself, it includes both attitudes and the collection of beliefs. Self-Concept also branches out into self-image and self-esteem. Self-image, is the way the person pictures itself. The self-esteem is the way we evaluate ourselves. We identify ourselves by our communication, and our interactions with others. In other words â€Å"I think, therefore I am†(Renà © Descartes; â€Å"ego cogito, ergo sum†) If a person was to tell another person whatRead MoreSelf Reflection : Self Esteem956 Words  | 4 PagesSelf-esteem is the comprehension of self-acknowledgement from the self and from others. Factors contributing to overall self-esteem includes; Self-worth, Self- tolerance and belief in oneself. (SOURCE4) Self-esteem is thought to begin as early as life and continue throughout existence with various changes as age progresses. (SOURCE#2) A sense of self-esteem outside of the norm can lead to problematic life occurrences. Both high and low self-perception can intervene with everyday life. People withRead MoreAdolescent Females And Self Esteem1262 Words  | 6 Pagesincrease self-esteem in adolescent females ages 15 to 17. The concept of self-esteem is discussed in depth in the proposed group program. Adolescence is a crucial time in developing a sense of self and strong self-esteem. Adolescent f emales experience low levels of self-esteem and have conflict with their identity during this time. The group proposal is designed to increase self-esteem and to teach new skills to have a stronger sense of self. Keywords: Adolescent, females, self-esteem GroupRead MoreThe Problem Of Self Esteem1180 Words  | 5 Pagesproblems in the current society. On the other self-esteem is one of the most important variables that have a significant influence on these challenges. This research aims to investigate the role of self-esteem in peoples with the tendency to addiction, prostitution, as well as theft in Kerman city, Iran. The paper is divided into various sections starting from introduction, literature review, finding and conclusion. Introduction Self-esteem is all about the thought feeling and emotionRead MoreTowards An Understanding Of Self Esteem And Eating Disorders1404 Words  | 6 PagesTowards an Understanding of Self-Esteem and Eating Disorders By Melissa H. Smith, Ph.D. | Submitted On September 24, 2012 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Melissa H. Smith, Ph.D. During aRead MoreThis paper’s purpose is to exhibit my understanding of adolescents and how their1700 Words  | 7 PagesThis paper’s purpose is to exhibit my understanding of adolescents and how their self-esteem/self-concept, play a role in their educational development. As adolescents progress through middle and high school, forming an opinion of oneself can be a difficult task to accomplish. What self-esteem means is the appraisal of or attitude toward the self (Wagner Ludtke, 2013). Adolescents are trying to identify if they like who they are, if they are confident in this person, a lot of personal turbulenceRead MoreFacebook Can Be Thought Of As Antibiotics1600 Words  | 7 Pagesthose who may struggle with face to face interactions to develop a strong sense of self and identity formation through their Facebook profile. But what studies are showing is that those who may struggle in real life might not be well enough equipped to do so in the online realm eit her. A couple factors contributing to an individual’s inability or struggle with interpersonal relationships might be depression and/or low self esteem. Both of these factors are looked at in research studies to see if Facebook
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
United States Policy Towards The Iraq War - 1501 Words
United States policy towards the Iran-Iraq war was interesting to say the least. While the United States claimed to be a neutral party, they supported Iraq for the majority of the war, supported Iran for a brief period, then went back to only supporting Iraq. Both sides committed numerous atrocities and war crimes, and for the most part received little to no American condemnation. Through this essay, I will explore the reasons for the US involvement, and their responses to a number of war crimes, particularly Iraq’s use of chemical weapons throughout the war. Firstly, it is important to understand why the United States decided to support Iraq. One of the reasons, is their loss of Iran as one of their â€Å"twin pillars.†When Nixon took office in 1969, his administration undertook a major review of US Persian Gulf policy. As part of an effort to redefine US military interests in key areas throughout the world by way of supporting certain states with arms rather th an military forces. The result was the Nixon Doctrine, which relied on security cooperation with regional states to protect US interests around the world. In the Gulf, the United States heavily supported Iran and Saudi Arabia, a strategy that would quickly be known as the â€Å"Twin Pillar Policy.†Unfortunately for the United States, the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 shattered the pillar that was Iran. The leader of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, denounced the United States as the â€Å"GreatShow MoreRelatedThe Realist and Liberalist Perspectives on International Relations and US Policy Stance Toward Iraq1186 Words  | 5 PagesThe Realist and Liberalist Perspectives on International Relations and US Policy Stance Toward Iraq There are two prominent stances in International Relations. The schools of thought are commonly referred to as realist and liberalist. There are various names that they are called, and they can also be split further into subdivisions. However, for the purposes of this question I will just refer to the main schools of thought, and the main aims of both the paradigms. At aRead MoreEssay about Machiavelli and War on Terror1100 Words  | 5 Pagesnewly acquired state. Machiavelli lived in a time when a ruler could come to possess another kingdom through the simple act of war. Yet, in our modernity, a ruler cannot simply declare war and occupy a territory. He must also face repercussions from the other world powers that are in existence today. Our time has evolved and a ruler now has to take into consideration the opinions of other world powers along with the opinion of other global organizations such as NATO and the United Nations. In termsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Proclamation Of Baghdad Essay1495 Words  | 6 PagesTowards the beginning of Emma Sky’s memoirs of her time working as a representative and advisor to the United States government in Iraq, she writes of one day in 2003 when the people of the city of Kirkuk, where she was stationed, whispered frantic rumors of a Jihadi infiltration of the city. To allay those fears, Colonel William Mayville, Commander of the U.S. Army s 173rd Airborne Brigade in Kirkuk, prepared a media statement for the city. The speech was entitled â€Å"to the People of Kirkuk ProvinceRead MoreInternational Policy Between Western Countries And The Middle East Essay1377 Words  | 6 PagesCHAPTER 3: DATA ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION 1) ISIS changed foreign policy between western countries and the Middle East Data Analysis and Sources: *Empirical history USA Foreign policy: From 1945 to 1990 the United States of America kept an important military deployment in Europe and Asia and in contrast they had a low military footprint in the Middle East counting relying instead on their local allies; more particularly the conservative Arab monarchies in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Persian gulf and hadRead MoreGeorge W. Bush s Foreign Policy Successful1601 Words  | 7 Pagesforeign policy successful?  ¬ â€Å"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel American resolve†- George. W. Bush Prior to World War I, the United States’ foreign policy remained predominantly isolated. However, upon the end of the war, American foreign policy saw a pragmatic shift from its original isolationistic nature to XXXXX . America’s policy then wasRead More Efficacy of Iraqi Sanctions Essay1540 Words  | 7 PagesEfficacy of Iraqi Sanctions As United States foreign policy has matured in the wake of the Vietnam Conflict, a seemingly bloodless, less nationally controversial tool than war has emerged. The United States has begun to slap economic sanctions on rogue nations in lieu of or in addition to sending in the Armed Forces. This policy of sanctioning nations begs one to ponder the legitimacy thereof. A specific case to be examined is the Iraqi conflict. In response to Iraqà s hostile takeover of KuwaitRead More The Effects of Reagan and Bush’s Policies in El Essay1696 Words  | 7 PagesThe Effects of Reagan and Bush’s Policies in El Salvador and Iraq United States foreign policy, since the Cold War, has been driven by ideology: good versus evil, capitalism versus communism, and democracy versus totalitarianism. America’s foreign policy objective from 1945 to 1991 was to contain communism, prompting Cold War calculus – the enemy of your enemy is your friend. The United States, following Cold War calculus, allied with unscrupulous leaders opposed to communism,Read MoreThe September 11 Terrorist Attacks904 Words  | 4 PagesFollowing the September 11 terrorist attacks, American foreign policy altered to a more neoconservative approach embracing a proactive policy contingent upon American military power. Unlike the previous cold war policies of the Truman Doctrine that advocated deterrence and containment, this new approach became a hybrid of Wilsonianism and Jacksonianism where liberalism fused with realist means to produce a unilateral American government unafraid to demonstrate their power in order to preserve AmericanRead MoreThe United States Military Functions As The World s Police1215 Words  | 5 PagesAfter the Civil War and by the mid-20th century, the United States had become the governing force in international relations. Some have argues that the United States’ military functions as the world’s â€Å"police.†This essay covers international events from the past five years that can be tracked back to a foreign policy created after the Civil War and the manner in which this shift occurred and the consequences the United States faces as a result of its status as policemen of the world. Also, the actionRead MorePoliceman of the World Essay916 Words  | 4 Pagesindependence from the British in 1776, the United States foreign policy over the years has gone from expansionist to isolationism to defending democracy. With the responsibility of defending democratic rights for those who cannot defend themselves, the United States in my opinion has taken on the role of â€Å"policeman of the world.†This role became more evident with the use of U.S. military force in international incidents like U.S. intervention in the 2011 Libyan Civil War to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
Social Learning Theory and The Effect of TV Violence on...
Social Learning Theory and The Effect of TV Violence on Children In the United States children watch an average of three to fours hours of television daily (Cantor Wilson, 1984, p. 28). Television can be a powerful influence in developing value systems and shaping behavior. Unfortunately, much of todays television programming is violent. Studies of the effects of TV violence on children and teenagers have found that children may become insensitive to violence. Consequently, they tend to gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems by imitating the violence they observe on television; and they identify with certain characters, good or bad. Therefore, extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater†¦show more content†¦Children who watch television shows in which violence is very realistic, frequently repeated or unpunished, are more likely to imitate what they see, ( p.25). Children with emotional, behavioral, or learning problems may be more easily influenced by TV violence (Bandura, 1977). The impact of TV vi olence may be immediately evident in the childs behavior or may surface later, and young people can even be affected when the family atmosphere shows no tendency toward violence (Cantor Wilson, 1984). Therefore, while TV violence is not the only cause of aggressive or violent behavior, it is clearly a significant factor. The Good in Television Not all television is bad. There are several excellent programs dedicated to young children. Some programs incorporate entertainment and education to help children learn and identify characters, shapes and colors. Programs such as Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Sesame Street also help promote good behavior and cooperation. Dr. Ernest Boyer, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and former US Commissioner of Education, stated: Television sparks curiosity and opens up distant worlds to children. Through its magic, youngsters can travel to the moon or the bottom of the sea. They can visit castles, take river trips, or explore imaginary lands. . .With selective viewing, television can richly contribute to school readiness. (Chen, p. 122) Unfortunately, mostShow MoreRelatedMedia Effects On The Media Essay1273 Words  | 6 Pagestelevision (TV), however many experts feel we are constantly affected by the media whether we think we are or not. Theorists believe that too much media exposure can lead to knowledge, attitudes or behavioural changes within a society, this is called ‘media effects’ (Kuehn, â€Å"Media Effects†). These media effects consists of several Paradigms, a Paradigm is described as â€Å"a typical pattern or model†(Kuehn, â€Å"Media Effects†). The Paradigms this essay will consist of are called the ‘New Effects Paradigm’Read MoreMedia Violence Essay1420 Words  | 6 PagesViolence in the Media and how it Affects Society The effect of media is profound and far-reaching. All over the world, the media influences our values and intrudes upon our deep-seated ideologies and beliefs. Indeed the media has been a powerful force in influencing people’s perceptions, and more importantly, their behavior as well. Business, politicians, and showbiz personalities pay huge sums of money to media firms in order create an image or change an existing one. Politics in particularRead MoreTV To Blame For Rising Violence Essay examples932 Words  | 4 PagesTV to blame for rising violence, says police chief an article taken from the Times on 28th June 2002. The article describes how the content of what young people are watching of television is responsible for rises in criminal behaviours amongst young people. One assumption is that young people are susceptible to the influence of television. In the article Matthew Baggott, the deputy chief constable states of young people, `They are very vulnerable to the influences of the media. nbsp;ThisRead MoreChildren Having A Television On Children1200 Words  | 5 PagesOne major concern is children having a television placed in their own bedroom; parents can often find it is easier for their child to have this amenity in their own room as this can keep them entertained whilst the parents find themselves in a busy position. Nonetheless, with this, we do not know what content the child is being exposed to, whether this is violence, sexual or information not suitable for children to be watching, children who stay up after their bedtime are more commonly able to accessRead MoreMedia Violence Related to Essay1183 Words  | 5 PagesIS MEDIA VIOLENCE RELATED TO AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR? Essentials of Psychology May 28, 2013 Research project number 05020500 I have chosen to discuss the role that media violence plays in aggression in children, specifically as related to Albert Bandura’s experiments. I specifically chose this topic based on Banduras observations with his famous Bobo doll study (which has been very influential to linking media exposure to violent aggressive behavior in children). In researchingRead MoreThe Effects Of Media Violence On People1388 Words  | 6 PagesThe Effect of Media Violence on People Media violence impacts the physical aggression of human beings. It is one of the many potential factors that influence the risk for violence and aggression. Research has proven that aggression in children will cause the likelihood of aggression in their adulthood. Theories have evolved that the violence present in the media most likely teaches the viewer to be more violent. It is a risky behavior that is established from the childhood. Furthermore, media violenceRead MoreThe Effects Of Media On Young Children1742 Words  | 7 Pages Observational Learning the Young Child Luciana D. Lavilaire Florida International University Prof. Marie Daurel - P. 1 Abstract This paper intends to bring awareness to the harmful effects of the media on young children. Through this paper, I will investigate the claim that television promotes observational learning. I will describe the obscenities the media exposes to children. With that, I will explain how the media causes aggression in consumers, especially those of youth. ThisRead MoreEssay on Child Development1286 Words  | 6 Pagesdevelopment. Parents have a responsibility, as well as a privilege, to contribute to every milestone. Most parents stress over physical and mental stages so much so that play-time is ignored. By making decisions that sacrifice play parents hinder their social development. Parents must take action and encourage their youth to play more, before childhood is lost forever. Play-time is an essential part of early childhood development as well as their most primitive form of expression. In an article titledRead MoreEffects Of Media Violence On Society888 Words  | 4 PagesEffects of Media on Society Media violence has numerous negative consequences on youth today to commit criminal acts in the society. Violence in the media will never be stopped as long as the society spends more time on violent movies and video games. Media violence has been tremendously growing and attaining the hazardous extents. Around 60 % of TV shows contain some kind of violence. Most self-involving video games contain some violent matter in it. For example, if you manufacture guns, you doRead MoreExplain the Social Learning Theory1737 Words  | 7 PagesExplain the Social Learning Theory, making reference to two relevant studies. By Tanisha Sabhaney Behaviouristic theories of learning are essentially theories of conditioning and emphasize the role of reinforcement in learning. One of the mot predominant theories is Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, which assumes that. People learn through observing others’ behavior, attitudes, and outcomes of those behaviors which is called observational learning, that is an indirect form of learning known as
Nursing Promising Pathways Free Essays
I once heard it said that vocation should be the place where your greatest talents meet the world’s greatest needs. For me the intersection between those two things lies in nursing. Without question nursing has become one of our country’s greatest needs, as the deficit for certified nurses rises and more and more people in our nation’s hospitals are cared for by unqualified nurses. We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing: Promising Pathways or any similar topic only for you Order Now   Likewise, I believe that my greatest talents lie in this field and that my skill set will help me to provide the highest standard of care at a time when patients need it the most. Nursing is not the glamorized profession that one often sees on popular television shows.  It is not about looking pretty in a white uniform. From my experience, being a nurse is actually the opposite of all that.  It entails working long hours and doing a lot of hard work. These are all part of why I chose to be a nurse. All the hard work and the fatigue pay off in the end when one has been able to save lives and make patients feel more comfortable during their times of need. In addition to the need that I will be fulfilling in my nursing career, I believe that it will be a rewarding job, as I will have the opportunity to help and to care for many people.  I have a passion for working closely with patients, regardless of their background or beliefs, and I believe that nursing is not merely a way to make a living, but a means of giving back to society. Not only will nursing be a rewarding and meaningful career for me, but my specific skill set gives me a great deal to offer my patients and my colleagues. I am competent in Professional Health Care Management with the ability to provide and promote the highest standards in the rapidly changing and ever demanding Healthcare sector, driven by a vast global economy and vibrant technological innovation. I am attentive to detail, highly organized with strong analytical and decision-making skills. I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, allowing me to provide care, compassion, and emotional support for irritable, stressed and ill patients.  I am highly knowledgeable in current and pertinent issues within and without the Healthcare sector. I am able to work under pressure for long hours and to do a considerable amount of lifting such as moving patients, assisting with toileting needs and responding to emergencies.  I have a polished professional demeanor, which enables me to develop and maintain relationships with professionals in the healthcare sector. Furthermore, I have excellent conversational skills in three international languages; English, Spanish and Italian. I believe that my prior experience and my education will also help me to contribute significantly to this field. I received a Pre-Med and Trustee scholarship to attend Suffolk University in Boston, where I major in Radiation Biology.  I have also become certified as a Phlebotomy technician, EKG technician and a Medical Clinic assistant. Furthermore, I am pursuing a nursing assistant course as a State Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the American Red Cross in Peabody, MA where I am learning procedures such as psychosocial care, restorative care, resident personal care, resident rights, communication, general safety procedure and infection control. In addition to my training, I have also held several positions in the medical field that have both increased my knowledge and proved to me that nursing is indeed the field that I want to dedicate myself to.  Since 2006 I have worked as a Radiation Therapist Intern at the Massachusetts General Hospital/ Brigham and Women Hospital / DFCI Boston. My responsibilities include accurate positioning of patients for treatment, operation of advanced medical equipment, quality assurance and providing competent patient care. I am also in charge of assisting the oncologist and the physician with treatment plans during delicate procedures.  From 2005 to 2006, I worked as a Medical Assistant at Alexyenko Medical Associates Lynn, MA. My duty was to assist in phlebotomy and EKG procedures. These are delicate procedures that demand the maintenance of high standards, both of which I believe I showed great aptitude for. I aim to work for an organization where personal growth is encouraged, human values are nurtured and talents are utilized in the attainment of organizational goals. I would like to be able to apply what I have been learning so far by taking a hands-on and direct approach.  I would like to attain a Masters Degree in order to gain the knowledge and experience to better prepare myself for medical school. By earning my degree, I am being both practical and responsive to the needs of the time.  It is practical because I have chosen a career that will allow me to utilize my talents and experience, and responsive because there is an overwhelming need for qualified nurses. I believe that I have had an abundance of valuable experiences and talents to offer the healthcare field. My prior positions have taught me both technical and soft skills. Technical competence is a core requisite of being successful in any profession. And yet more than this, my exposure in these institutions has taught me fortitude, patience, love of authentic service, and a strong spirit of volunteerism. My desire to be of real service to others has compelled me to move ahead and take advanced studies in this field. It is with great joy and excitement that I join the place where my talents meet one of our country’s critical needs.  How to cite Nursing: Promising Pathways, Essay examples
Book Review on Care for Souls by David Benner free essay sample
Reflection Paper Care of Souls: Revisioning Christian Nurture and Counsel by Swanie Khoo In the work of professional psychology, we have now a forray of theories, therapeutic techniques, and modern psychotherapies which has all too frequently ignore the spiritual element in human life. In Care of Souls, Dr David Benner recaptures the place of the spiritual in psychological work. Among the many benefits of the use of modern therapies and medical science, he has also emphasised putting Gods priorities above ones own in the practice of Christian soul care. Care of Souls provides an account of Christianitys historical practices of soul care through a culmination of his many years of scholarship, teaching and clinical work. However, I found its dense prose difficult to comprehend and some times confusing and it was also difficult to capture his train of thought. I have to say it was not an easy book to read. Benners starts the book helping me understand soul care. He asks â€Å"What is soul care? †He claims soul care as â€Å"the support and restoration of the well-being of persons in their depth and totality, with particular concern for their inner life. Benner posits that care of souls came from a latin word, cura animarum, where this word embraces both care and cure of the soul. Many times in the text, he interchanges the words care and cure of soul. However, both care and cure have both very different implications and it made me uncomfortable to claim that the Cure of the Soul is part of the work of a psychotherapist. Psychotherapists treat the soul by easing suffering, helping people in emotional pain to reclaim meaning and purpose and encouraging people to see themselves, others and the world more accurately. I believe that psychotherapists care for the soul. The cure of the soul is Gods work; it is the result of Gods redemptive work in one to completely heal and repair ones damaged soul. I agree with Benner that clinical tools and integrated therapies aid healing and nurture of the soul, but to completely cure the soul of deep-seated emotional wounds and freedom from compulsive disorders, are beyond the work of a psychotherapist or the use of theory or methods and mainstream psychotherapies and its interventions. The cure of a damaged soul will not be complete without the involvement God and the work of His grace. I feel strongly about this because I was once that damaged soul, damaged by the world around me. It was only God who saw me in my devastation, and only He could deliver, heal and do His deep repair to make me who I am today. I found the seven characteristics of Christian soul care helpful to measure my own qualifications. He poses that there is no higher calling than that associated to care of souls. This is such a strong reminder for me as I thread into the world and work of soul care. Although I have worked in the corporate world, dealing with people and development of individuals but the work of soul care, is truly a vocation called by God, because in this work, I need to put on the personhood of Jesus, and to care for individuals, I need to see them through the eyes of God, without any prejudices, or judgement. I recognise and agree with Benner, that I have to be spiritually mature, strong in the Word of God, and have a developed habit of prayer. Having said that, it reminds me again, that this is beyond the theories and therapeutic practices that I am learning. I am not called to care for souls because I am good in the therapeutic techniques, but its about having a heart that cares, and empathises, and trusts in God for these people that God cares, and whom He endows into my care (my version). Benner quotes Thomas Olden, â€Å"Neither analytical skill not theoretical knowledge can have positive effect if there is no genuine and compassionate care for others. It is only the companionship of grace, drawing on resources beyond ones own that wisdom will be found for this task. Many times, in my conversations with God, I keep telling him, that I am not qualified for this work that He calls me to, I dont have what it takes. But as I make meaning of the story that my life encapsulates – I was a damaged soul, damaged by abuse by my own father. I cant even say I have a father, because I grew up without knowing what fathers love felt like. My earthly father had a gambling problem and had multiple affairs outside of marriage. The pains of my c hildhood robbed me of my identity, confidence, security, trust in men, joy of living and believe in myself. I struggled greatly even as I grew into adulthood, but, God has healed me, and He is still healing and redeeming me from the wounds of my past. Through many challenges in life, as I grew into adulthood, I find myself asking Him, â€Å"God, why, oh God, why do you give me such an emotionally challenging childhood? †Though I did not receive a clear answer all these years but he taught me one thing, and that is to live my life with open hands, to allow God, the Author to do what He so choose to do. It is He, God, the Master of my life, and as for me, to live a life surrendered to my Master. Only then, did I realise that thats how I am able to taste his endless richness of His grace. God has redeemed me and has blessed me so much. Today, I can say that I am blessed and I give thanks to God. Now that I am here, in SBC, studying this work of Benner, it is totally sobering to be called into the work of soul care. Having taken the journey that I have, this reckoning gives me true meaning of what I have experienced in my past; it is that I may understand the broken and damaged souls that God brings into my paths. Benner presented us with the demands and the challenges of soul care, and as I ponder over them, I recognise the weight of the responsibility of one being in soul care, and especially in Christian Counseling. He provides us with practical advice for all of us in soul care to meet these demands and challenges in the vocation. I summarise them as follows, in my own version : Being Authentic – truthful, and avoid professionalism Benner emphasises many times about about being authentic and the giving of our selves to the vocation, this he calls a demand and also a challenge of soul care. One of the ways in which he encourages us to do so is that we have a deeply personal engagement which can be founded in true dialogue. And true dialogue can only occur in a relationship between equals, according to Buber. This, in my lack of experience, I find rather unrealistic for the caregiver and receiver to be mutually caring for each other although I agree with him about being real, and having a deep engagement with a counselee, I am still wondering how does mutual care work in a counseling relationship between a counselor and counselee? Though, most importantly, I agree with Benner about guarding ourselves against having a â€Å"professional†attitude. Benner calls it the emphasis of doing over being. We also run the isk of our relying on technical competence over giving of ourselves. Quoting from Benner, â€Å"The challenge is also to resist the temptation to reduce soul care to the skillful application of techniques. When techniques are understood as disciplined ways of offering ones self, they greatly enhance the care that is provided. But when they become ways in which the soul guide avoids engage ment as a genuine self, their effect is to depersonalise the engagement. †Countinuously growing in Christ toward developing an integrated inner core – devoted to God in prayer, meditation, and solitude. To continue to grow in Christ is totally mandatory in this vocation. It is quite impossible to be a representative of God in this ministry without a daily walk with God. Our eyes are tainted with prejudice, and judgement, if we do not see the one that we are caring for through the eyes of God, and the compassion to love them with the heart of God. Its totally impossible to be a Christian Counselor without putting on Jesus. Use the transforming power of story – tell your story I believe that each of us called into soul care, have a testimony to tell about Gods healing power and grace. I remembered when I shared the testimony of my life at the Womens Conference for the very first time, I felt I was released from the bondage of my past. I not only felt like a prisoner set free, but I was surprised by the way God used my story, to open up the hearts of the women in the audience to share and bare their lives for Gods healing to take place. Totally amazing! Although, I still feel fearful about disclosing my life, and its a constant reminder that when I share about Gods goodness in life, I am giving God glory, and its not about me. I agree that these are a big challenges and demands of one who is in the work of soul care, and I pondered over it for a long time. Realistically, to be of service to others in this vocation will be tiring, and frustrating. We easily grow weary, and may start depending on our own strength and skills, especially, the moment, we think of serving people, we begin to have a notion that other people owe us something for our pain. We begin to bargain for reward or to angle for applause. This all happens when we make ourselves the centre of things.
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