January 23, 2023
Grace & peace to you in the name of our Savior Jesus!
On December 6, 2022, I was hospitalized for what I was told would be a “routine” and “fairly easy” surgery. Less than 7% of the time, complications arise from this surgery. Unfortunately, I fell into that 7% group and ended up spending 22 days, including Christmas, in the hospital with numerous complications and additional surgeries.

A couple pastors in my synod asked me recently – “How’s your prayer life?”
How’s my prayer life? Wow! That’s an intense and challenging question. Maybe even a little offensive given the last few weeks of my life.
Looking back on my journey since December 6, I’m struck by how difficult it has been to have a prayer life. Lying in a hospital bed, not sure what the next few hours or days might bring, prayer was not something that I thought much about. Most of the time, depending on how much pain medication I was being given, prayer was impossible.
Another pastor reminded me recently of the Apostle Paul’s words in the eighth chapter of Romans. It speaks to how I have answered the question “How’s your prayer life?”
Paul writes, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
I’ve found great comfort and strength in Paul’s words in these days that have moved from a hospital room to time at home so I can heal and recover. When I was lying in the hospital, not able to pray, the Spirit interceded through others, holding me and my family in prayer.
With sighs too deep for words, I give God thanks and praise for the Spirit’s interceding.
With sighs too deep for words, I am forever grateful for all who hold me in prayer when I simply can’t pray.
With sighs too deep for words, I give thanks that my prayer life has been restored in ways that I couldn’t possibly have imagined before December 6, 2022.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, how’s your prayer life??
Until next time, may Christ’s peace be with you always and in all ways…
Bishop Craig