*The following liturgy was written by Cara House. Cara was a fellow in the 20-21 class and is currently in Medical School at the University of Florida.
God, my life is Yours. Grant me the grace to rise each morning with my eyes fixed on you and walk humbly through the day you have set before me.
I want to remember that You alone are the great physician. You heal and redeem all who are sick, hurting, and hopeless. As I learn how to heal others, help me walk in complete dependence on You and Your ultimate capacity to heal and restore.
This world is not our forever home, thus I will come face to face with brokenness in the form of physical, emotional, and spiritual sickness. When my soul is overwhelmed by the ailments I experience in the earthly bodies of Your creation, help me to look on these things with an eternal perspective. Help me remember that healing will never be complete until we see You face to face.
Give me eyes of love and compassion for each patient I encounter. Remind me that because each person is created in Your image, each person is worthy of my utmost patience, care, and concern. Give me eyes to see those that are unseen and to know those that feel unknown.
Help me to trust that Your presence goes before me each day. You daily prepare a path for me, even when it looks different from the path I would plan for myself. Help me to trust that Your same presence goes before each person I encounter, and that you have numbered the days of all of Your creation.
When my schedule and task list feel overwhelming, help me to remain attentive to the present moment and to the person in front of me. I want to live fully in each moment, attending to the needs of others to the best of the abilities You have granted me.
On both the best and the worst days of practicing medicine, grant me peace, joy, strength, and compassion. On the best days, help me to rejoice with others in Your provision and celebrate Your goodness. On the worst days, help me to grieve with others but to trust that Your provision and goodness are somehow present there too.
Help me not to forget your benefits, O Lord. You forgive our iniquities, You heal our diseases, You redeem us from the pit, and You crown us with Your love and mercy. May all glory and honor be unto You, Lord, and not unto myself.
Amen.