Pen-demic

To worry about the future, "How long can we stay in our 2 -story house?" lessens satisfaction and joy today. To worry about the future, "what will happen if I get sick?" paralyzes me from living life today. To worry about the future, "what if we have to isolate for a year?"  challenges my faith that God knows the way. We have had many challenges—brain injury, heart infection, cancer, pain. When the challenges tried to bury me, I knew what to do. Standing eye to eye, I have confronted life’s obstacles; I have made compromises. “You can slow me down, you can block my way,   I must live my life . . ..with God’s grace and guidance. . ..  One day at a time.”

Archie Bunker  :  The Lord God created me in his image. Michael 'Meathead' Stivic  :  You mean God looks like you? Archie Bunker  :  I ain't sayin' you couldn't tell the two of us apart. Archie Bunker  :  Every picture I've seen of God, he's white. Henry Jefferson  :  Well, maybe you were looking at the negative! [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0509934/characters/nm0005279] Politicians need to have more respect for their Bibles.  They are more than  tools of the trade. The theological discourse of Ohio State Representative Nino Vitale (below) brings to mind Archie Bunker's theology, quoted above.  The belief that humankind was created in the image of God was invoked by the legislator to defend his not wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. He posted on Facebook: This is not the entire world. This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles. One of those principles...

Watching the children next door      chasing their new puppy around the yard every day. Memes on facebook:      “ . . .here I am laying on the couch, being a hero”. A wave from the Rich and Charlie's delivery man       as I pick up dinner on the door step. Leisurely reading a library book         with no due date in sight. Loved ones thinking of us        with unexpected notes and treats in the mail. Saying “YES” to a chocolate chip cookie        on my Panera delivery order. A snake, guitar strumming, snapchat faces:       Zooming with teen-age grandchildren. Video collage of of church members       waving anything green on Palm Sunday Processional. Calling the shut-ins and hearing Martin’s excitement      that his grandson would play football with Tampa Bay. Rachel’s banner  on the front ...

By Doris Martin You would think that I have plenty of time to do so much now that I am staying home and staying safe. “Seniors” (I still can’t wrap my head around that term as if it didn’t pertain to me) are supposed to be careful with this monster looming outside our windows. So, I’d better get down to business! First of all, I now should have time to finish the book I’m writing about my Swedish grandparents. Actually, plenty of time to get it printed for my family by Christmas. I thought the days would go slowly for me but it’s quite the opposite. It seems now that as soon as I finish breakfast, instead of starting to write the 1,000 words a day suggested by many authors, I am thinking about what I can make for lunch and then dinner. We were used to eating very healthy meals making fresh fish three times a week with chicken or pork tenderloin on the other two nights and “whatever” on the seventh night. Now, since my daughter is busy working from home, she insists on doin...

SARS. COVID-19. Vivianna’s life right now is bookended by these deadly diseases. 2003 was the year she joined our family. 2020 is her senior year in high school. Both events should be happy ones, filled with preparation and celebration. Yet, doubt and lack of control clouded her adoption process and now overshadows her senior year. In the spring of 2003 John and I anxiously awaited news of the baby in China who would be our daughter. We had waited a year and were expecting to be “next in line” to get the paperwork telling us we were “matched” with a baby girl. I wrote daily in a journal about our wait and throughout March and April the worry about SARS in China dominated my thoughts. I held off writing about SARS because I prayed it would soon go away. On April 25, 2003, I wrote about my fears. “This is supposed to be a time of joyous anticipation and excitement for us, but it has become clouded by uncertainty and fear. Please let us be able to travel to get our daughter!” The...

It’s called “the new normal”. Life as we knew it has changed. We don’t know how long this will last. It may keep coming on in waves until we get a vaccine for it or something to eradicate it if it is contracted. The Covid-19 corona virus has hit and we are now in the midst of it. I heard we haven’t even peaked yet, but that may come in two weeks. People have been laid off in droves, all trips cancelled, no social gatherings allowed. We are told to wear masks and gloves if we have to go out, especially to shop for groceries. Distancing of 6 feet between people is being asked, as well as only to go out if absolutely necessary as for prescriptions and food. Most retail stores that don’t have these are closed. It is really hurting the small business owners. Restaurants are open for take-out only. Some people are afraid of this and subsequently most restaurants are barely hanging on. Rob and I moved to Chesterfield on March 10th, two days before this was called a pandemic. We were...

My skin is warm from the sun's glare through my car window. The temperature is rising, dare I say, it's hot? The air will feel good rushing through my hair, making it dance as I drive down the highway. Hesitation. What else will an open window invite besides the wind? I try to relax. Reason that all will be well and yet, the question lingers. To find relief being part of the sun and wind or close up where isolation may keep me safe, but without a filled spirit. -Nikki Douglas Photo by  Makenna Entrikin  on  Unsplash