by Alan Finley
Synopsis: Healthcare workers have been heroes in this present crisis, risking their lives to serve the infected, the sick, and the dying. Alan writes from their perspective, combining expertise in the medical profession with his experience as an elder.
Florence Nightingale, who lived from 1820 to 1910, is remembered as the “Lady with the Lamp.” She is the founder of modern nursing. The title, “Lady with the Lamp,” refers to her caring for wounded and sick soldiers through the night during the Crimean War. The World Health Organization designated 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse” in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Known as a person committed to action to benefit those in need, she is quoted as saying, “I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.”
This emphasis on action, as opposed to mere words, was not invented by Florence Nightingale. This theme occurs throughout the Bible. James says,
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so, faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself (2:14-17).
Jesus frequently used medical analogies during his ministry. Consider His connection with “the balm of Gilead” and identification as “the Great Physician” (Jer. 8:22). Sin is described as sickness and forgiveness described as healing (Matt. 9:12-13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31). With these thoughts in mind, it is not surprising that there are parallels to be drawn between our recent experiences during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and our Christian lives.
Healthcare workers have borne an enormous burden fighting this illness, and it has tested them in extraordinary ways. Sadly, we have even heard stories of some who have been so overwhelmed that they have taken their own lives. Nevertheless, during this time, there have been extraordinary expressions of appreciation and words of encouragement that have lifted the spirits of those who are in the thick of the fight. These gestures have relieved burdens and made a challenging job a little easier.
Likewise, many of our brethren have been weighed down with concerns during this pandemic related to health, income, separation, and various other challenges. Thankfully, we have seen brothers and sisters in Christ encourage each other. They have reached out through handwritten cards, emails, phone calls, and texts.
One recent example involves a sister who has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Brethren gathered in their vehicles to have a surprise parade with signs, cheering, and laughter to share their love with this sister and her family. Although they could not physically embrace this sister or her family because of the need for social distancing, this outpouring of love touched her heart and brought a moment of joy to her and her family. Indeed, it was a time of joy for all who were able to participate and share encouragement.
Fear causes some to step backward, while others step forward despite their concerns. Healthcare providers are not immune to fear. Yet, throughout the U.S. and the world, many have voluntarily placed their lives at risk to care for COVID-19 patients. They do so, not for reward or recognition, but from a sense of duty and commitment to serve those in need. On the other hand (and thankfully, this has been very rare), we hear of some who have been unwilling to step forward when needed, being paralyzed by fear.
In the spiritual realm, Satan uses fear to tempt us to step back from action when God would have us to act. When the twelve spies went into Canaan to spy out the land for conquering, ten came back with a report based on fear. This led many of the Israelites to lose faith in the plan and power of God. Of the twelve spies, only Joshua and Caleb had confidence that God would be faithful to his promises (Num 13:21-14:25). Haven’t we all had to face fear in our lives as Christians—fear of lost relationships, fear of ridicule, fear of lost status, etc.? The list goes on and on. Christ challenges us to step forward in faith and take appropriate action, overcoming our fear of man, being empowered by our fear of God (Matt. 10:28).
Because of the need to minimize unnecessary exposure, several of our healthcare support staff have been asked to work from home when it was appropriate for their job. Many of these staff express how they long for the time when they can return to be with their coworkers. On the other hand, being out of the daily flow in the workplace may cause some to focus on the negatives rather than the positives of their work environment and their relationships with coworkers.
In the absence of communication, we often write our own narratives. Hopefully, these narratives are positive. Yet, if we are not careful, negative thoughts can creep in, leading to doubt, strife, and division. Recognizing this, it becomes even more essential for leaders to communicate frequently and effectively with all within the organization.
Likewise, separation from brethren should produce a longing for the time when we can be together again to share in the demonstration of our love for God and each other. Note Paul’s statement and its parallel to our current situation: “But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face” (1 Thess. 2:17). Although this should be a time when we are joined in spirit with our brethren, Satan can exploit such occasions to create doubt, division, and distance, filling our hearts with skepticism about relationships and our place in the local body of believers. Knowing this, we should make every effort to maintain communication with our brethren during times of separation by appropriate visits, phone calls, emails, texts, etc. Let us guard our hearts to protect our loyalty to the Lord and to protect our relationships with our brethren.
Many healthcare providers have made personal sacrifices to serve those who are critically ill from COVID-19. Thankfully, most do so willingly and find joy in their service. However, we hear of a few who seem to wear their service around like a heavy burden and experience no joy in helping others during their time of need.
Likewise, situations like this pandemic create opportunities for us to serve our brethren who are in need. We can find joy in this service, or we can complain about the imposition. Peter said, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (1 Pet. 4:9). Satan is adept at turning service—something that should be beautiful for both the giver and the receiver—into something ugly that is marred by complaining and selfishness. We must guard our hearts against complaining about service provided to others. Instead, we should count it all joy, knowing that as we serve others, we are serving the Lord (Matt. 25:40; Gal. 5:13-14; 6:9).
During this time of a worldwide pandemic, there are certainly opportunities for sacrifice and service in the healthcare realm. As Christians, we should follow the lead of Christ, the Great Physician. Let us realize that we are continually living in a spiritual pandemic. There are numerous opportunities for us to encourage, overcome fears, let our hearts grow fonder during separation, and find joy in service.
Author Bio: Alan serves as an elder at the Hwy 65 church of Christ in Conway, AR and has served as a hospital administrator for twenty-seven years. Alan and his wife, Julie, have four children. He can be reached at ajfinley@windstream.net.
