Suffering – When time stands still

Are You Vaccinated? AUDIO

It’s been the topic of daily conversation in every state of the union since the new year began. Did you get your shot yet? Which vaccine did you get? Did you have any side effects? Where did you get yours?

We have become the nation of inoculation. A vacci-nation. The United Shots of America. The vaccination preoccupation nation.

Our collective attention on COVID-19 mirrors the Kennedy assassination and the first moon landing. And the reason for this single-minded focus? Fear. Fear of death.

The daily tally warns us there is no place to hide. The coronavirus spares no age group, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, or political persuasion. The instinct to survive is now fully engaged.

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An Opus For God – Part Two: A Close Call audio

No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the asp and the viper; you shall trample down the lion and the dragon (Psalm 91: 10-13).

Tommy’s third year of life was like an obstacle course for all of us. Our goal was just to get to the end of it as quickly as possible.

It started shortly after his birthday in January when his ENT doctor wanted to schedule a surgery to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. But he’s so little and fragile, we protested. She insisted it was necessary for his ability to swallow. So we gulped ourselves and relented. It seemed like his recuperation was barely over when another surgery followed. Tommy needed bilateral tubes in his ears to overcome his chronic ear infections. His ENT assured us that he could tolerate a second procedure. I remember consoling myself with the thought that he might be too young to recall any of this in the years ahead.

Then came an unexpected development. Tommy started walking. His balance had been inhibited by the blockage in his ears. Almost overnight he abandoned his little walker on wheels and started wobbling around the house like a newborn chick. My new pastime was to watch him explore with a crooked smile pasted on my face.