Spiritual Care - LPNI

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Spiritual Care

LPNI Health Topic – December 2019

December is a great month to remind ourselves about spiritual care as we serve others and as we care for ourselves. My mind gravitates to two visuals: the actual town of Bethlehem and the Wholeness Wheel. The Wholeness Wheel is a pie-shaped visual with our baptism in the center with spokes of each area of our whole being (relational, emotional, physical, financial, vocational, intellectual). The key is that the whole circle, the whole pie, our wholistic wellbeing, is encompassed by spiritual wellbeing!

‘Spiritual wellbeing encompassing all other aspects of our well-being is acknowledging that our pursuit of wellness is not possible without the righteousness that is ours by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ’s redeeming sacrifice for us that we seek to nurture our relationship with him through the study of his word, prayer, devotion, and worship. By grace he grants us righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17.’ Quote from The Wholeness Wheel found on the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s website at https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/health-ministry/resources .

Unlike traditional nursing positions where spiritual care might be included, the parish nurse is expected to include the spiritual dimension in whole-person care. This intentional care of the spirit can be done in several ways, such as providing resources for health-care decision making within a Lutheran Christian context; assisting pastoral staff with parishioner visits and in providing support for caregivers; being present with and walking alongside someone going through a difficult situation.

One year I led a team to Bethlehem, and during the pre-mission training, I kept emphasizing the term ‘ministry of presence’. A member of our team, a nurse, had difficulty understanding that concept. She had worked at a nursing home and anticipated the mission to focus on education, hands-on care, and problem solving. Nurses are wired to measure our accomplishments of the day by what we can check off as being completed. After she participated in being with the people, hearing stories about their life and faith in God, and encouraging them with her presence and prayer, she realized what it means to ‘bathe’ wholistic care with spiritual care.

It is just wonderful how God prepares us for service. Self-care might include being active in worship; participating in a Bible study; having regular personal devotions and prayer; maintaining an ongoing, open relationship with the pastor and other parish nurses for examination of spiritual distress. We each need to address and realize how God provides for our spiritual health self-care. He blessed me with an opportunity to put my heart, my hands, and feet right where the Bible comes alive -- in Bethlehem.

Jesus, our Savior, was born in the little town of Bethlehem. As I walked down the narrow cobbled stone streets and descended into the grotto where it is thought that Jesus was born, it was a good reminder of the reality of God’s love sent down from heaven! When I sing ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ with our congregation, my voice quivers in thankfulness of God’s love and generous gift to me.

It is important to care wholistically for ourselves with a spiritual-care emphasis in order for our wholeness wheel to go round and round and not have a ‘flat’, so we can be well enough to care for others. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 NIV

Karen Hardecopf, RN, Certified Lay Minister-Parish Nurse

Cross Lutheran Church, Yorkville, IL 60560 USA khardecopf@gmail.com

Maryhme29@cox.net