We are the shut-ins

     I grew up in a Pentecostal, Assembly of God church.  The pastor preached fire and brimstone, did an altar call after every service, and the congregation stood to testify.  People also made prayer requests which generally fell into two categories: special unspoken -- which my mom explained were very personal but I took to mean they just wanted attention, and prayers for the shut-ins-- who my mom described as people too old or too sick to come to church.  To my elementary school-aged mind, I figured if you wanted to go to church you would.  I didn't understand.

     Fast forward to 2020.  We're in the middle of a pandemic, and I've only been out of the house twice in the last 3 weeks.  I've been watching church online for longer than that.  I have zero immunity; my body just doesn't produce enough white blood cells.  Mingling with the general population was dangerous for me long before Covid-19 came into play.  Now, it could be a death sentence if I go out.
   
     I am a shut-in. 

     I am trapped, essentially under house arrest.  My oncologist has put me under lock down.  I'm only to go out for doctor appointments.  Last week, three of my doctors did my appointments over the phone.  My world is getting smaller.

     My husband is now working from home, and has established himself as sentinel: no one in and no one out.  He takes massive precautions to keep me safe.  He does the grocery shopping so I don't have to go out.  He unloads everything so I don't come in contact with germs.  He changes his clothes when he comes home to minimize my exposure.  He wipes down the door knobs and mailbox regularly.  When I do go out, I'm not allowed to touch anything.

     I am a shut-in.

     I finally understand those prayer requests.  It's hard to be cut off.  Physically and emotionally.  It's hard to want to be somewhere and not be able to go.  People's prayers can be a saving grace during that time.  You don't understand until it happens to you.

     Now a dangerous sickness is raging in our country, our state, our city.  Staying home is the safest thing we can do to protect ourselves and the ones we love.  Whole families are home together now since schools and businesses are closed down.  We all have nowhere to go.  There's nothing to do.

     We are all shut-ins now.