Fall Back and Punt

I struggled back to my car from my foray into the mall with the Hallmark bag dangling from my arm, leaning into the wind and sheltering from the rain the recordable books I had just bought for my grandchildren. My phone was ringing and I was out of breath as I finally managed to slide into the car and slam the door shut. I wrestled with the phone, barely managing to get it out of my pocket and answer it before it went to voice mail.


I seriously considered not bothering to answer until I saw it was from the Church accompanist. Must be important. I pushed the green answer icon. "Hello?" Lourdes' voice called my name. "Esther! I cannot play for you tomorrow. I am in the hospital."

"What!!?? Are you OK?" No she was not OK. She had collapsed in the middle of the night and had a friend take her to the emergency room with appendix trouble. The doctor wanted to immediately do surgery, and Lourdes wanted no part of it. But her friend convinced her and she had her appendix laproscopically removed. Even before she was fully free from the effects of the anaesthesia she started fussing to be allowed to go home!

I understand her angst. No insurance. No money. Bah. I wanted to weep for her. I wanted to fix the situation. But what I really had to do was figure out how to do Sunday worship without an accompanist. The anthem was to have been the Rutter "The Lord Is My Shepherd" from his Requiem. A challenging piece to sing and to play. There was no way for the choir to sing that without my direction and without Lourdes there to play.

With a bit of grace and a few changes, we flipped the service around to allow me to direct from the keyboard. Of course, I have other pianists in the congregation and choir who can fill in also, and will call upon them if Lourdes will be out longer, but knowing her spunk, I suspect she will be back quicker than blink.

Lord have mercy! Some days you just have to do your best and leave the rest in the good Lord's hands.