Luke Van Sock Chairman of the Board of Directors of the largest health insurance fund in our country, although he does not like the term “health insurance fund”. “I prefer the term health fund. With a health insurance fund, the focus is on the sick and not on people who are not sick. When we pay attention to health, we reach everyone. All people are limited and they have questions about well-being and care.”
Human size. Pleading for imperfection
Last month Van Gorb published his third book: The Size of Men. Appeal of imperfection. Since I was born I have felt and felt that people are at risk. It is a very difficult world around us, and we have to try to survive in it. This is not currently possible for many people. Half a million Belgians are sick for a long time. This accounts for around 16% of the active population, which is a large number. They can suffer from depression, fatigue, or other illnesses that are often related to a work situation but often run deeper, ”says Van Gorb.
Van Gorp asks whether we are using the right system and whether we are giving enough attention to the important things. “Man is not something we can mess around with until we reach perfection. It is not man who has changed, but the world. We are currently living in a linear fashion. We are obsessed with age, aging and the amount of life. We must try to move to a more circular lifestyle, where we put quality of life first. As long as you get along with your life, you always want more, old, better, etc. This translates into economic growth. We focus more on human growth, everything has to go and go down, until we move towards a circular lifestyle: Who More to little, “says Van Sock.
From nurse to seminary
Van Gorb grew up in a large family of six brothers and sisters. He first came into contact with the healthcare sector at the age of fifteen, when he first joined an ambulance. “When I first approached healthcare, I thought,“ I never want to do this. ”But eventually I took a course at the Red Cross and decided to study nursing in Leuven when I was 18. I like to bring peace and an outlook to people. “I like to radiate peace in times of crisis,” says Van Gorb.
After studying nursing, Van Gorb decided to study at the institute for three years. “As a nurse, I felt a religious attachment to vulnerable people and wanted to immerse myself in the priesthood out of passion. I felt a great connection with my deepest“ being, ”with nature and with others. It brought me close to the earth.
On the one hand, you are very cruel against homosexuality in society, but in your own establishment you have no answer at all.
Even though Van Gorb had very fond memories of his school years, he still felt the presence of hypocrisy in the institute, especially with regard to homosexuality. “I myself have no problems with homosexuality, but the institute stated very clearly that it is not possible. But then it turns out that there is no problem if your seminary colleagues are gay. Then you get hypocrisy. On the one hand, you are very harsh” against homosexuality in Society, but in your own organization you have no answer at all. I couldn’t understand it for a long time, “says Van Gorb.
“I am still very religious. I feel connected to myself and others. I believe that religion starts from the deepest“ existence ”of people. I also believe that there is right and wrong that you have to choose. I believe that love is stronger than evil and that love equals connection. From small and large groups, this connection is in their actions. But I think the institute itself should get a little dirty. Then we will automatically find the connection again, ”says Van Gorb.
Make death a subject of discussion
A religious nurse is not always easy, but that does not mean that medicine cannot go hand in hand with spirituality. “We have to make death a topic for discussion.” Van Gorb says, “There is a lack of discussion about ways to die and how we experience the end of our lives.”
“Unconsciously, we are all very anxious about dying. We eat, sleep and communicate with other people, which is something you wouldn’t do if you were immortal. Often the most important question is our last question on their deathbed. It’s very difficult for health care providers to find the right words.” In that final conversation. Actually, it shouldn’t be that difficult. We need to bring in more other healthcare profiles that can teach us how to have these conversations and who stands out for the quality, so that healthcare changes from linear to circular. “
The most meaningful conversations are wordless conversations, where you don’t say anything
“We have to dare to ask the toughest question. If someone asks you if he’s going to heaven or he’s going to die, the answer is yes. But instead of answering, you can also ask a new question:” Why do you think that? “And then you leave. This situation could happen. A big difference. You have to listen to understand someone. Healthcare is now very focused on speed and efficiency, but we must invest in a slow situation. The most meaningful conversations are wordless conversations, where you say nothing. Van Gorb says: We are very good at Work, but we’re really bad at just “being”.
future
Van Sock suffers from a ringing in his right ear, a complication he did not want to experience. “Maybe I got it from the stress. The tinnitus made me realize that I have a responsibility to my wife and children. I am now trying to make more time for myself and say no more.” I particularly suffer from tinnitus in very quiet rooms. If I am going to die, I hope that this tone disappears, and that they take it away from me. “
I don’t mind dying. Seems soothing to me
Van Sock prefers to see himself aging quietly in his home and not afraid of death. “Even though I have seen a lot of people die, I don’t think dying is a bad idea. I don’t want to die, but I look forward to it. It sounds soothing to me. Eternal comfort.”
“I don’t want much. I’ve already gotten a lot in life. I’m grateful for everything I get and maybe be. I have a very sober attitude and I won’t be disappointed easily because I don’t crave much,” says Van Sock.
If there is a message that Van Sock wants to convey, it is important that it only “be”. “Be present. It contributes more to happiness than the world in which you are constantly trying to prove yourself.” Existence “connects, deep in your soul, more than your business model.”
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