On Praying For Nurses

And All Medical Personnel

My wife, Dr. Holly Lear, is the Director of Nursing at a long-term care facility in Kalona, IA called Pleasantview. As many of you may know, while a good number of us have moved on from the pandemic, long-term care facilities have not been able to due to ongoing state and federal regulations.

But two days ago was a big day for long-term care. New guidance came down from on high saying that long-term care facility employees no longer needed to wear face shields. Holly told me she ceremoniously went up on the main floor, gathered her employees, took off her shield with a flick of her wrist, and said, (still slightly muffled through her face mask) “WE CAN TAKE THEM OFF!”

Throughout this global pandemic, I have made it my intention to pray for medical personnel. I have prayed for them personally. And I have led my church in praying for them.

As I rejoiced with my wife over the small, but monumental moment, I reflected on those prayers. I wrote a prayer early on in the lockdown months, and I thought I would share it. Tears come to my eyes as I revisit these words and remember the visceral emotion with which I have prayed them.

Loving Father,

Your scriptures command us to send the elders of the church to pray for the sick;

To anoint with oil,

and to ask in faith for healing.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

You said that as often as we visit the sick person,

we visit you;

Yet we are required out of love for our neighbor,

Not to visit,

Not to touch,

Not to anoint.

Holy Spirit, go where we cannot go, we pray,

And anoint the hands of all medical staff and personnel

who must, at their own risk,

Visit,

touch,

and anoint.

May no evil befall healthcare workers.

May no plague come near their house.

May they be like your servant Phineas,

who stood up and intervened,

and the plague was stayed.

Amen.