Grounded

I was supposed to be on my way to Zurich via New York today.  I had planned for quite some time for meetings that I was to have in southern Germany and Switzerland with other leaders of other ministries that work with the persecuted church worldwide.  I had missed similar meetings last year due to my having just had a bone marrow transplant but planned to be ready to go for this year. 

And then, wouldn't you know it.... I caught the mother of all colds over the weekend.  At least, I think it might be a cold.  Not sure yet, but it also left me with a murderous sore throat and hives on my arms and legs, which makes my doctors think it might be strep throat or some other viral infection.  Having had pneumonia twice last year, they wanted to be extra careful. My transplant doctor ordered me to take a CT scan of my chest yesterday and took a number of blood cultures and the like.

And he told me to stay home.

Of course, this is not simply for my health and safety but also for the poor unfortunates who would be forced to sit beside me on the plane.  I am sure that I am not the only one who has had the person next to me hack and cough on me. I caught perhaps the worst cold of my life on a flight to Sri Lanka in just that manner.

So, here I am, sitting at home, grounded.  The antibiotics I was prescribed seem to be fighting the virus effectively and I expect to be back in the office tomorrow.  But I am frustrated; 1) at not being able to attend these important meetings for two years in a row, 2) at possibly appearing in the eyes of others to be unreliable because of health issues (even though this really had little to do with my transplant; this cold would have grounded anyone), 3) at not being able to fulfill aspects of my ministry (i.e. traveling) as a CEO.  I know that ultimately my reputation and service for Christ is ultimately in His hands.  The difficulty is leaving them there.