Recovering

I go to work today. Yesterday I only had reference desk duty in the morning when it is normally quiet so I didn't feel too bad about missing. Today I have a class to teach as well as desk duty and a meeting. I must go in. I pray quietly that the violent diarrhea resulting from yesterday's episode with the mushrooms will not hit during teaching. I lean on God to get me through.

I feel like a wet dishrag that has been through the mill. I can barely speak because any pressure on my diaphragm upsets my stomach. I have not eaten anything in awhile. Really I should still be home recovering, but I cannot miss more work. After all, I am the sole support of this family. Oh, wait. I take that back. God is the source of my supply and he has taken excellent care of me. He will continue to care for me regardless.

Today is no exception. The class calls and cancels, the meeting gets cancelled. I can sit quietly in my office and do quiet things while sipping cold water. It is restful. I can run to the bathroom when necessary without anyone paying any attention. By the time my desk hour arrives I am feeling a bit better. I do have to make a quick pit stop in mid shift, but no one was at the desk waiting when I returned. Thank God for a quiet day. I did get lots of little details taken care of, but I am extremely glad to go home and put my feet up.

Toast, anyone?

Blockage

I should have known better. I guess I just never ate enough mushrooms to realize how much fiber they have. But it tasted so good with the chicken. By mid afternoon I knew I was in trouble. Sharp pain in my right side (not appendicitis - already had my appendix removed when I was 12), bloated, nauseous. This cannot be good.

I try to distract myself and read, but the pain is too sharp. I know there is no value in taking pain killers, because I have had this before. Something is stuck in my intestine and will not pass through. Fiber can be deadly for me. This is why I am normally so careful about what I eat. Too risky to deal with blockages and possible twisted bowels and ruptures. In the past I have ended up hospitalized over such whatnot. I know moving helps, so I move. I pace, I try the mini tramp, I rock back and forth, I hug a hot water bottle, I cry, I pray. I am determined not to submit to medical professionals unless I am unconscious and have no choice.

I finally go to bed, still hugging the hot water bottle. Every 2 minutes by the clock my insides spasm and cramp. Then they release. Still nothing moves. I pray more. I try drinking hot water, but I am too bloated to tolerate much. Move. Move. I know that movement can help. I massage my stomach slowly. I can literally feel the lump where the stuff is stuck. I try to push at it, to prod it, to convince it to break up and filter out. I moan a bit now and again. I whisper "O crap" then laugh at my own joke.

After hours of agony and tears, I finally get some relief. My behind explodes, spewing mushroom chunks everywhere. Repeatedly. If I weren't so relieved, I would be grossed out. I have to clean the bathroom several times. Drew will not appreciate my mess. It is early in the morning now. My entire stomach area is tender, swollen, sensitive. I will be restricted to toast and tea for awhile trying to recover from this episode. Mostly though I am exhausted. I will have to miss work and lie low until I can recover. Rats. No more mushrooms. Hard lesson to learn.

In the Shadow of the Cross

Palm Sunday! Yeah!!! I get new palms to place over my door. This year pastor has the choir enter during the first hymn waving palm branches. The sanctuary is fuller than usual. Our tech people are in place. Our narrator is ready. The candle lighting girls have their lighters and snuffers (we will extinguish candles until they are all out and we exit the sanctuary in darkness and quiet). My heart prays for people attending. Lord, be present. Touch lives.

We move through the children's story, the offering, the prayer. Then it is time. I feel like praying "Lord, into your hands I commit this music." We stand for the first song. I am amazed at the sound pouring from the choir! It is amazing, confident, meditative, well pronounced. I can move past helping some trouble part find their note to eliciting expression from the singers. This is good.

Slowly we make our way through each scene. Kiel has videoed his friends playing the various roles of Jesus, Judas, Pilate, Peter, etc. They found creative ways to portray each scene using little in the way of props. The story comes alive in unexpected ways. Everyone is drawn in. The narrator sets up the scene, the actors act, the narrator explains, we sing. It is moving like clockwork. No need for restarts due to bad entrances or anything even remotely like that. From beginning to end, a professional job, and well sung. Thank God for his grace and these singers for their faithfulness.

At the end of service, people are reticent to leave. They need time to process it all. Yes. There is much to think about. For me too.