The Rhinovirus

A lament

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

I had so many plans.
I would go to the Christmas party
At the pastor’s house
And get to know the people in my church
A little better
And maybe make a new friend.

I would tidy the garage
And fill the shelves I built two months ago
And get rid of some useless junk
We’ve collected over the years
And maybe for once bring order to my space.

I would finish writing
That article I was working on
The one that required me to think through
A thorny bit of theology
And maybe for once keep my publishing schedule.

I would go to church
And hear the Gospel preached
And the forgiveness of sins proclaimed
And partake of the symbols
Of bread and wine
And maybe find grace for another week.

But a microscopic virus got into my body
And now my chest and back hurt from coughing
And my nose is raw from dripping snot
And my brain is encased in Jello
And all my best laid plains have gone awry.