The Act of Waiting
The Act of Waiting
Have you ever taken your car to the mechanic for a simple oil change? You arrive, check in, and you are told to wait. How that about doctors appointment that you arrive on time for? You see to it that you are five minutes early, and then you are told to wait?
Sometimes we're not very good at waiting. At Christmas, the temptation to move at supersonic speeds during the holidays can often feel maddening. The thought of shopping these days is overwhelming to say the least and trying to make sure that everyone in your circle receives something that they might actually enjoy and appreciate is even more overwhelming sometimes. Thank God for Amazon wish lists.
Advent is that time of year in which we are told in the scriptures to simply slow down and wait. It's a time that we witness with our own eyes the transformation of our churches into spaces that for at least four weeks help us focus on the act of waiting. We listen to stories from the scriptures and sing songs that call upon the people of God to just wait.
The reality is that if we were to be truly honest, there is a whole lot happening in this world and it would be kind of nice if God were to actually show up right now. Right?
On this first day of December, what if we were to simply start each day for the next 24 days, by asking the God of the universe, to help us learn the act of waiting? Most of us know the end of the story. We know hope is coming friends. It always does. It always shows up. We just need to slow down a little, reset, and reboot as we get ready to celebrate the gift of the one who has, and will, and is coming to us at Christmas.
Until then? We wait.
As we move toward Christmas, let this first verse of this familiar advent carol be our prayer today:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Amen.
Have you ever taken your car to the mechanic for a simple oil change? You arrive, check in, and you are told to wait. How that about doctors appointment that you arrive on time for? You see to it that you are five minutes early, and then you are told to wait?
Sometimes we're not very good at waiting. At Christmas, the temptation to move at supersonic speeds during the holidays can often feel maddening. The thought of shopping these days is overwhelming to say the least and trying to make sure that everyone in your circle receives something that they might actually enjoy and appreciate is even more overwhelming sometimes. Thank God for Amazon wish lists.
Advent is that time of year in which we are told in the scriptures to simply slow down and wait. It's a time that we witness with our own eyes the transformation of our churches into spaces that for at least four weeks help us focus on the act of waiting. We listen to stories from the scriptures and sing songs that call upon the people of God to just wait.
The reality is that if we were to be truly honest, there is a whole lot happening in this world and it would be kind of nice if God were to actually show up right now. Right?
On this first day of December, what if we were to simply start each day for the next 24 days, by asking the God of the universe, to help us learn the act of waiting? Most of us know the end of the story. We know hope is coming friends. It always does. It always shows up. We just need to slow down a little, reset, and reboot as we get ready to celebrate the gift of the one who has, and will, and is coming to us at Christmas.
Until then? We wait.
As we move toward Christmas, let this first verse of this familiar advent carol be our prayer today:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Amen.
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