Prayers Before Surgery: Reflections from the Rev

Injuries are common place in sports, especially in professional soccer. I recently sat with an athlete before surgery and it got me thinking back to the various surgery centers, hospitals, and other clinics where I have been present with people before this often difficult moment in one’s career. Whether it’s the waiting room of a surgery center or the post-op recovery room, there are many places where, as a chaplain, the only thing that you can really bring is the presence of God and the power of prayer. In today’s edition of From the Touchline, I share about how prayer and faith can help the athlete before, during, and after an injury. I reference Diane M Wiese-Bjornstal’s article, Christian beliefs and behaviors as health protective, resilience, and intervention factors in the context of sports injuries. Also, don’t forget that our app has a recorded prayer for an athlete who is about to go for surgery! From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer). Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.