Waiting

Wait and see.  What are you waiting for?  Just you wait.  Hurry up and wait.

Wait for it...wait for it....

“How much of human life is lost in waiting?” -Ralph Waldo Emmerson

My dad once told me that I was born without a fast gene.  You know, the gene that enables people to move and act at high speeds. 

I don’t have that.  I pretty much go at one, slow and steady pace.  I’ll always finish the race once I start it, but I will take my time getting there.

For the most part, the slower-paced Carribean lifestyle suits me.  But, even I get frustrated with how loooooong it takes to get things done, to get from here to there, to get my email to load....blah, blah, blah.

I’ve been studying Advent with my high school Bible class students, and it seems to me that, in some cases at least, my friend Mr. Emmerson got it wrong in his quote above.  

There is much to be gained in the waiting sometimes.

My students and I have been talking about what Advent is and why it was originally observed.  My research says that Advent is sometimes called a “little Lent.”  A time for purifying and preparing to receive the gift of Christmas.  

People haven’t always started celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving.  They didn’t go to parties all through December, chugging eggnog and devouring endless tins of cookies.  

Instead, they fasted in the days leading up to Christmas.  They simplified.  They quieted.   They anticipated.

They waited. 

When Christmas Eve finally arrived, the celebration was worth the wait.  They chopped down their tree and brought it in for decorating.  They prepared a feast.  It was time to indulge!

How sad that now we get to Christmas day and feel “burned out” on festivities.  We lament that we’ve gained a few pounds from all the goodies we’ve devoured.  We are annoyed by all the decorations about the house.

My “Jesus Calling” reading for today spoke straight to me regarding these things I’ve been pondering--mentioned my name, in fact!

“I am working on your behalf.  Bring Me all your concerns, including your dreams.  Talk with Me about everything, letting the Light of My Presence shine on your hopes and plans.  Spend time allowing My Light to infuse your dreams with life, gradually transforming them into reality.  This is a very practical way of collaborating with Me.  I, the Creator of the universe, have deigned to co-create with you.  Do not try to hurry this process.  If you want to work with Me, you have to accept My time frame.  Hurry is not in My nature.  Abraham and Sarah had to wait many years for the fulfillment of my promise, a son.  How their long wait intensified their enjoyment of this child! Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.” (Psalm 36:9; Genesis 21:1-7; Hebrews 11:1)

Ha! So, I have something in common with my Creator!  Neither of us likes to hurry. 

But seriously...

Let’s not make a waste of waiting.

Here, we get to wait for caterpillars to turn into butterflies all year round!