Limbo-land

Oh, just to be stuck in  rush-hour traffic behind a school-bus!

 Oh, to be free of COVID-19!

Oh Lord, that we would not be too stubborn to learn to lean on You!

I've remarked a few times how I didn't realize till this lock-down how much of life is Plans...

often we forget to say if the Lord wills we will...

James 4:13-15

 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town 

and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—  

 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. 

What is your life? 

For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  

 Instead you ought to say,

 “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Living in limbo these strange days it seems

Plan stands akimbo as we gaze at dreams

All we once witnessed without second thought

Sparkles with richness we nearly forgot

Stirring fond longing for mem’ry-made Things

Work-a-day love-song while tool-of-trade rings

Caught in the traffic behind a school bus

Turn up the music while we fret and fuss

To market, to market, without fearful word

To bicker and barter and shout to be heard

To mosey, enchanted, indulge in the bliss

That we took for granted…big hug, handshake, kiss

To wish to be jostled by crowds bargain-mad

To be pushed and scowled at won’t seem so bad

To chat (bumping carts) about everyday tasks

Not six feet apart behind mittens and masks

To ruffle the curls of baby girls, freckled chaps

And cuddle the world as they climb on our laps

To not furrow brows at the Sunday noon clock

While Preacher runs overtime rousing the flock
Or dock the poor server of nickel and dime
Because lunch took longer than it did last time

Not spiteful and quick to pinpoint people’s flaws

But gentled by sickness-induced worldwide pause

Beneath deathly pall of ‘ah, this too shall pass’

Urging the hours to fall through time’s glass

Till all this is over, then pray we will be

A sister and brother worldwide family

More giving, more thankful, more fully aware

Of living more mindful of love’s creature-care

More patient and humble, need each other more

Less reason to grumble than we had before

When all this is over and we realize

The gift of each other is life’s truest prize

© Janet Martin

May we be part of a worldwide choir, even now
Praising God for His daily mercies!
Some sweet day we will gather to sing in choirs