Day 18: Waiting

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Like many of you, I am not a huge fan of waiting.  There’s such a negative perception to waiting. As a society, we hate it, don’t we?  We hate it so much that companies know how to sell us their products.  Just tell us that it’s fast.  Fast food, fast delivery, fast internet service entices us.  Instant is another temptation.  Instant cash, instant coffee, Instagram! Okay, not quite the same but you know what I’m saying, right?  We complain about being hurried, but we gravitate toward the fast lane.  Passing someone is a lot more rewarding that keeping pace in the slow lane. I get it. Guilty as charged, ya know.  Patience, on the other hand, is a discipline. In my brief experience in the military, I was taught patience.  Most of the time it was in a twisted sort of way, like “hurry up and wait”.  Think about that for a moment.  You are given the emergency of ten seconds to be somewhere and then when you’re there, you are forced to wait for an unannounced amount of time for the next activity.  It could be for ten minutes, but it feels like an hour when you have no idea how long you’re gonna have to wait. 

Waiting also has helplessness feel to it.  We may be helpless, but we don’t want to ever feel helpless.  Waiting is the reality that we hate to face.  The realization that we are not in control, that there are other factors that we can’t manage or manipulate.  We are limited by all of these variables that we can’t control and some we can’t even understand.  That’s why short cuts are so attractive.  They promise something that waiting just can’t compete with: the promise of now!  But if “waiting” is the spouse of our dreams, then “short cuts” are the one night stands.  They’re aren’t the Ms. Right.  They’re more like the Ms. Right Now’s.  We love what she promises, but hate what she delivers.  Waiting may suck, but right now can be the real culprit that “sucks” away our hopes and dreams. 

Life is a series of waiting rooms.  I’m in one right now, several really.  I’m waiting to see how all of this writing and composing are going to produce dividends.  I’m waiting for the moment I can experience the financial peace and scream “I’m debt free!”  I’m waiting for my children to develop into mature adults with families and careers of their own.  I’m waiting for my last mortgage payment.  I’m waiting for the day I walk my daughters down the aisle and into the arms of their husbands who will love them almost as much as I do.  I’m waiting for the day I look my nervous sons in the eyes on their wedding day and tell them “I’m proud of you, son.” I’m waiting to speak blessings over their lives and wives and future grandchildren.  I’m in the waiting room, no doubt.  But when I think about it.  There are some things that are worth the wait.