She Will Raise You Up

 

Barb made 6:00 a.m. tolerable.  Sitting in a tiny outpatient room in a hospital 40 miles from home at that hour was a challenge to our minds and bodies, but Barb greeted my wife (the patient), and after telling her what a cute name she had, she asked, ‘And where did we get him?,’ referring to me, the scruffy man huddled in the opposite corner.  We had a pleasant conversation as all of the vitals were taken and as Jill modeled the beautiful hospital gown.

Nurse Barb got me an exemption from the rule requiring me to vacate the room during surgery since the procedure was relatively brief. So, while the surgery was underway I remained in the room working on my sermon text, which includes a little vignette about Jesus visiting Peter’s mother-in-law who was suffering from a bad fever. “So he went up to her, took her hand, and helped her up.”(Mark 1:31)

Soon thereafter the surgery team returned, wheeling the patient back to one side of the tiny room. Barb asked me to get up out of the ‘big chair’ because she had to move Jill to a seated position to start the recovery process. And so she did. Barb took Jill by the hand and helped her up.

The book of Mark was written in Greek, and the word used to describe Jesus helping up Peter’s mother-in-law is the same word that Mark uses to announce, “He has risen!” (16:6)  I believe that Mark wanted us to see the act of raising up Peter’s mother-in-law as a glimpse of what was to come for Jesus, and one day, for all who are ‘re-covered’ by Jesus’ healing power.

Which made me think about Nurse Barb, and the thousands upon thousands of caregivers who every hour of every day, 24/7/365, take someone by the hand and help them up. I am praying that Barb, and all her sisters and brothers in the world of delivering healing, know that they are doing the work of Jesus.  “We need to get you up so you can be well.”

She will raise you up, offering spiritual eyes a glimpse of the eternal.

God bless the healthcare workers who raise us up so that we may be made whole.  Just like Jesus.