Is waiting a problem for you? Do you get tense, stressed, nervous, uncomfortable, or eager when you have to wait?
Patience is a virtue, yes, but how we wait can say something about who we are as individuals, whether virtuous or not.
Do you fidget? Do you look for distractions? Do you talk to yourself? Do you try to read and find you’ve read the same paragraph six times?
Does it matter if you’re waiting for a late plane or waiting in a doctor’s office? Does it matter whether you’re expectantly waiting for the arrival of a visitor or waiting for Christmas? In other words, how personal is your waiting? Can waiting be a self-centered exercise when you wonder how you will react, or whether you’re ignoring other things of importance because you’re concentrating on waiting for something or someone?
As I write this, I’m waiting for the bug man. He’s late.
First, I fed the birds. I could have WAITED to do that. I finished my Bible reading while I waited, one eye on the page and one on the clock. Then, I started writing this blog. If I finish it before the guy finally gets here, I’ll consider it another thing I completed. That’s a good thing.
Anticipation is part of waiting. Are we nervous waiting for a diagnosis? Are we excited waiting for a special birthday present? Are we eager waiting for a concert to begin? Are we wondering who will live in the houses on our street, now that the lots are cleared? (Yes!)
I suppose psychologists can tell us whether fight of flight takes over as we wait.
I do know the Lord says, “Be still and know that I am God. “I know that the Psalmist says, “Wait for the Lord. Wait patiently for Him and He will grant you your heart’s desire.” I know we eagerly await the Lord’s Second Coming. Maranatha. And I know we wait to arrive in our eternal Home in His Presence. One day we shall see Him face to face. “I can only Imagine!”
All this earthly stuff is merely bother. When we arrive at perfect peace, recognizing that all is in God’s hand and that He is sovereign, even waiting can be the ultimate redemption of time. For time is man’s measurement; eternity is God’s promise.
The difference is finite or infinite. So, I’ll just wait ’til the Turner man gets here and tell me what these little ant-like creatures are. They’re not the usual local ants for sure. Did they come with our new sofa, or in a cardboard box? I’ll just have to wait to find out. With that, have a great day.
And I’m still waiting.
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