The Honor Box and Real Life
Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 07:41PM Yoda said it best to Luke: "Do, or do not. There is no try."
When I decided to "do" the Honor Box back in 2001, Yoda's wisdom was at the forefront of my mind. I knew that I had to be committed to the Honor Box concept. If I was to merely "try" it and see how it worked out, I would surely fail. I knew that whether it drove me to bankruptcy or made me out to be the laughing stock of the Hawaii business community, I was going to run my practice this way and not give it up. Regardless. No matter what.
There's been hard times. Times when I would open the box, count the money and worry about how in the world the bills would ever get paid. There have been frustrating moments, like the time someone left me a Subway Club Card as payment.
But for the most part, I have come to believe that it is not from the pockets of my patients that the Box gets filled, but rather, from the windows of heaven. God fills the box.
What gets filled into the Box is in direct correlation and proportion to the level of my faith. The more I am humble, diligent and worthy, the more God bestows.
So the Honor Box is a measure and a test of my faith and I have come to accept it as such...
But how can such spiritual perspectives find congruence in the cold, hard merciless world of business? Because when all is said and done, my practice is a business. Not a ministry. Not a charity. Not a non-profit.
A business.
Real life, baby.
And when my faith falters, those times when I think how easy it would be to charge the full price to each and every patient and make what I'm "really worth"-- when my mind computes the bank I would be making if I charged full price, I find that I immediately must call on myself to repentance. Because any prolonged examinations of "what could be" in terms of my finances in a life without the Honor Box, would quickly lead me down a road to a hell of greedy thoughts, selfishness and ultimately, deep regret.
And to regret the implementation of the Honor Box would be a prideful, scornful rejection of what is not at all a burden, but in fact, a blessing.
How many others have this blessing where the spiritual can blend so simply (not necessarily always so easily) with the daily transactions of a business? For whatever reason, I have been given stewardship over this Honor Box and I must guard it well always.
For this is, for me, real life.
Reader Comments (4)
Hey Doc, My wife found your blog on my email and made sure that I saw it. I am a fellow chiro in the Sac, CA area. I too, have 4 kids and served a mission. I started my practice 2 1/2 yr. ago and have always been intrigued by the honor box system. I believe in the law of reciprocity so I know it can work. I did have some questions regarding insurance and credit cards etc. I would love to find out more about how you have done it. --Jared PS Nice tag "Whose got your back."
I've never heard of a doctor using an honor box system. What a wonderful thing. Pain doesn't come only when we have ample funds for treatment. God will take care of you when you serve in this way. God bless you!
I am deeply moved with your sharing a testimony of FAITH, yes this is faith allowing our loving father God to provide All of your needs minute by minute. May God richly bless you and your family for all that you share of your time,gifts,talents and techniques. For the riches are not here on earth but in heaven.
Blessings to you my Brother,
A Sister in Christ
Hello Doctor Reed,
I have not came to see you yet, but am making an appointment tomorrow. I love the idea of this box. I grew up in a very God loving home. And It makes my heart truly smile to know that there are people out there that honestly believe in God and they will be taken care of money or not. My father is in the Military so I grew up a military daughter. Now I am married to a military man and have a child of my own. Even with the military there are times when money gets really tight. After buying diapers and formula and everything else there is just no money left sometimes for other things that need to be taken care. I just want to say thank you for passing the Good Word around and thank you so much for being the one doctor that I REALLY can not wait to meet!
God Bless!