Waiting.....for what?

I’m finding “there’s a whole lotta waitin’ goin’ on!” Standing on your dot, physical-distancing...waiting in line to get in to the bakery, the bank, the public washroom, the gym. Waiting for Covid to be over, waiting for a vaccine, waiting for election results, waiting to be able to gather in person, waiting to see a new grandchild, waiting for a job, waiting for the construction to resume, waiting to move into the new building... Waiting for peace, for hungry children to be fed, waiting for a turn-around for the environment...Just a whole lot of waiting going on.

Well, we are not the first to wait. Waiting is a major theme in our faith, from our ancestors right up to today. For example, when to people of Israel were in Babylonian captivity, exiled from their home-land, they waited and yearned to return home. Isaiah gave them a message of comfort and reassurance of God’s faithfulness...a way will open up in the wilderness.

In the meantime, Isaiah says, “Why do you say...’My way is hidden from theLord, and my right is regarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? TheLord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:27-31)

They that wait for the Lord...is also translated as those who expect, look for, put their hope in, trust in the Lord. A very powerful take on waiting. So when waiting is mentioned in our long story of faith, from Genesis to Isaiah, to Jesus, to the Church, it’s not about passively marking time; it’s not about keeping busy; it’s not even about the thing we are waiting for. It’s about where we put our trust. It’s about living expectantly and watching for what God is doing in the world and in us...and participating in that. And think about it...God is waiting too!

In every case when the people of God were waiting, it turned out that God was waiting...for them...to get the message...to turn...to open their hearts...to see the light. And how does God wait? Very actively. Always speaking to us, working in our hearts and relationships, sending messages and messengers, and calling us into more life and love for the world.

What are you waiting for? How are you waiting? What do you think God is waiting for from you right now? These are challenging times and Gerhard and I feel very blessed to be on this journey with all of you good and gifted people!

Grace, Peace, and Wisdom.

Rev. Jan