Spiritual care as it relates to parish nursing is a true wholistic approach to ministry. God is revealed to us in three persons, otherwise known as the Trinity. This is God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit. We are ministered to by each of the three persons of our Creator. Conversely, from the Greek perspective people are created tri-partite in spirit, soul and body and care needs to be considered respectively. As nurses we were trained in school principally from a scientific standpoint to care for the physical needs of the patient. The term psychosocial pertained to that “other” area that we needed to be responsive to and deal with but not as a priority unless dealing with mental health nursing. Spiritual care was and is often neglected.
Parish nursing places the proverbial missing cog in the wheel. It is important for us to encourage and teach others in their spiritual growth in order to promote total wellness. When people neglect their spiritual health and live life in their own strength, fatigue and illness soon takes place in the body. Our bodies cannot keep up to the unrealistic demands without the help of the Holy Spirit. Time with the Lord in prayer and Bible study reconnects us with the Life Source. This will in turn, give a sense of peace in all situations.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7. (NIV)
We know that scientifically the chemical reactions that stress has on cortisol from the kidneys can lead to all kinds of stress induced disease. Neglect of our spiritual care directly affects our physical body and we need to care for all aspects of it.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God: You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
As a parish nurse, we can point people to Christ and the need to stay connected with Him. To assist those in not neglecting their spiritual health and promoting the care of their physical health will bring them towards shalom that we all long for.
Bibliography: Holy Bible, NIV. The Zondervan Corporation. 1994
Monday, January 31, 2005
Monday, January 24, 2005
Self Care of the Parish Nurse
I believe the importance of self care especially as a PN (parish nurse) can’t be underestimated. As nurses, we tend to have the type of personality that jump into a challenge before we have stopped to take into account what the costs of that involvement can be. We sometimes rely so much on our “intellect” and not on the Lord that using our own strength soon takes its toll.
Four years ago the Lord used an exacerbation of a chronic illness to help me to realize that. Looking back, I know that He used that to prepare me for His ministry of parish nursing. “We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort” (2Corinthians 1:7). I was not only doing things on my own strength but also feeling that I had to do it “all”. I was not utilizing people God put into my life whom He had also gifted in ministry.
I have come to value the value of rest and quiet time alone with the Lord. Daily devotional time in the Word of God is so imperative to refuel your soul. Christian and classical music is also vital to me. The times when I feel overwhelmed with life, music can bring me to that place of praise and worship and being thankful in all situations “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Colossians 3:15-16).
“Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord”. (James 5:13).
I read Judith Shelley’s book Spiritual Care this summer while on vacation. This book emphasized spiritual care of the caregiver as well as those we care for. She underlined the magnitude of taking sabbaticals. Entering into Sabbath rest doesn’t have to be a four month excursion but even a few hours away by a lake with God can renew your soul “A Sabbath rest remains, therefore, for God's people. For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His.” (Hebrews 4:9-10). While I must confess I haven’t yet embarked on that manner of sabbatical, I do have it on my “to do” list. The tyranny of the urgent tends to take over some days when that couple of hours doing housework can be better served alone in that “quiet place” with the Lord.
Kim
Four years ago the Lord used an exacerbation of a chronic illness to help me to realize that. Looking back, I know that He used that to prepare me for His ministry of parish nursing. “We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort” (2Corinthians 1:7). I was not only doing things on my own strength but also feeling that I had to do it “all”. I was not utilizing people God put into my life whom He had also gifted in ministry.
I have come to value the value of rest and quiet time alone with the Lord. Daily devotional time in the Word of God is so imperative to refuel your soul. Christian and classical music is also vital to me. The times when I feel overwhelmed with life, music can bring me to that place of praise and worship and being thankful in all situations “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Colossians 3:15-16).
“Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord”. (James 5:13).
I read Judith Shelley’s book Spiritual Care this summer while on vacation. This book emphasized spiritual care of the caregiver as well as those we care for. She underlined the magnitude of taking sabbaticals. Entering into Sabbath rest doesn’t have to be a four month excursion but even a few hours away by a lake with God can renew your soul “A Sabbath rest remains, therefore, for God's people. For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His.” (Hebrews 4:9-10). While I must confess I haven’t yet embarked on that manner of sabbatical, I do have it on my “to do” list. The tyranny of the urgent tends to take over some days when that couple of hours doing housework can be better served alone in that “quiet place” with the Lord.
Kim
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