On Sunday, we began a new season in the church, often known as "the season of waiting", or Advent. I'd like to take a few moments to reflect upon the purpose of waiting and on practicing the virtue of patience. I remember hearing as a young child (especially around Christmas time when the desire to rip off the wrapping paper is ever so strong!) the phrase, "Good things come to those who wait." But why must I wait if I know what I want? Why can't I just have it right now? Now that I'm older, I can see the importance and even the beauty of waiting and being patient. Just think about all of the young couples that are expecting children. What better way to get closer to your spouse, your parents (the child's future grandparents), and essentially to God, than preparing for a new child to enter the world? In the church, that is the purpose of Advent: to become closer to God and to each other as we are preparing for Jesus's birth. Also, maybe a time of waiting is a time for us to discover things we never knew before, whether that is about each other or our world. Use your time of waiting wisely by learning about the world around you, rather than wasting it with being impatient.
Inspired Action...
The next time you are waiting in line, try doing some of these things instead of resorting to impatience:
- Look at the people and things around you. I once read in a book about "people-watching" and have found it a very entertaining past time ever since. If you'd like, you can even make up stories behind the people you see. For example, the man with the eye patch could be a pirate who is on his way to discover buried treasure, or the lady with the dark sunglasses could be an FBI agent on a dangerous mission. Get as creatively crazy as you want!
- Strike up a conversation with the person beside you. Ask them about what they're buying and if they think it's a good buy, or simply smile and say, "How are you?"
- Take a moment to breathe. You're not doing anything else of importance, so why not supply yourself with some good, clean oxygen?
Waiting can be such a beautiful thing, especially when it gives us the time to stop and smell the roses. Encourage others in your life who seem impatient and stressed to stop, let everything wait for a few moments, and just take a breather. This week, if your boss or spouse seems worn to a frazzled little nub, invite them to take a few deep breaths with you. Or you can gently remind them that it will not be the end of the world if they take a break and just "let go" for a while. After all, most of the time, it can wait.
2 comments:
Last month I had to sell a car for the ELCA in Egypt, and I spent significant parts of THREE whole days in not the most uplifting offices doing the paperwork. Your reflections on waiting are particularly thought provoking after such an experience! I have discovered that one way of enjoying the sights around me, as you say, is to take pictures of seemingly mundane things with my pocket camera. And I had a friend who suggested that while I people-watch, I pray for the folks I see.
Thank you for sharing your own experiences! I love the idea of adding prayer to the practice of people-watching!
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