On Waiting
I'm a little hesitant crossing intersections these days. I pause and look over my shoulder more than the average person. On my bus ride this morning, I watched as three people risked crossing and cutting into traffic. I would have waited but that's not always been my habit.
I hate waiting.
But I'm beginning to see benefit in waiting.
Hesitation and waiting are different. They both are a pause. Yet, hesitation is often weaved with uncertainty. Waiting is incorporated with certainty. With hesitation there is indecision. In waiting, the decision has been made.
When you approach a yellow light, three responses are possible. You may go. You may hesitate. You may stop. If you hesitate and then decide to go, you may end up running a red light from your indecision. Stopping requires waiting, though. And in this stop to wait, usually patience is required of you too.
It seems there is circumstantial waiting. A waiting that is not necessarily by choice, one that is essentially forced upon you by circumstances outside your control. But there is also an intentional waiting. A choice to wait.
In a fast moving society, intentional waiting is not often a quality that is admired. And circumstantial waiting is met with annoyance and impatience.
I'd like to leave you with these three thoughts...
1.) We all know that being impatient, annoyed, and rude does nothing to help circumstantial waiting. It doesn't make the bus come any faster. It doesn't allow the grocery line to move more quickly, the traffic won't disappear and so on and so on. In the everyday waiting outside of our control, it helps to pay attention and to empathize. You're stuck in traffic but have you noticed the sunset? You're in the line at the grocery store but did you notice the bright-eyed baby that will smile and giggle at you? Did you notice that their mom is at the end of her rope, she feels the weight on her shoulders? Honestly, I think we don't because we like the rush from our responses of impatience, annoyance, and even anger.
2.) I think there's an importance and certain amount of perspective that is displayed with intentional waiting. It is not something you have to wait for but you realize it's need is not immediate. There's an amount of self-control that is displayed. You could satisfy your desire right now but choose to forego doing so for a payoff later down the road. Modern life makes this difficult. Modern life says, "I want it now!". Modern life gives into this rush of immediate gratification which in return may cheapen the item or cheapen our experience. In fact, right now, the Dove chocolate "motivational wrap" at my desk says 'What are you waiting for?'. Maybe we should all try a little intentional waiting.
3.) I've been contemplating the phrase "wait on the LORD" recently. Variations of it can be found all throughout Scripture (one of the most recognizable verses is Psalm 27:14). And in a way, all of Scripture is a revelation of mankind waiting for the LORD. What occurred to me today, is that we are to wait on the Lord. It does not say to hesitate on the Lord. Often, I hesitate on the Lord. I'm uncertain if He will act on my behalf. I am uncertain if He really is who He says. It's like starting to brake at the yellow light but not being sure if it will ever turn green again. So you just barrel through it. Sometimes, this is how crashes occur. Then, you're forced to stop and wait. Waiting on Him is intentional, decided, and certain. Not certainty in your circumstances. It is certainty in who He is. And He is the Great I AM.
I hate waiting.
But I'm beginning to see benefit in waiting.
Hesitation and waiting are different. They both are a pause. Yet, hesitation is often weaved with uncertainty. Waiting is incorporated with certainty. With hesitation there is indecision. In waiting, the decision has been made.
When you approach a yellow light, three responses are possible. You may go. You may hesitate. You may stop. If you hesitate and then decide to go, you may end up running a red light from your indecision. Stopping requires waiting, though. And in this stop to wait, usually patience is required of you too.
It seems there is circumstantial waiting. A waiting that is not necessarily by choice, one that is essentially forced upon you by circumstances outside your control. But there is also an intentional waiting. A choice to wait.
In a fast moving society, intentional waiting is not often a quality that is admired. And circumstantial waiting is met with annoyance and impatience.
I'd like to leave you with these three thoughts...
1.) We all know that being impatient, annoyed, and rude does nothing to help circumstantial waiting. It doesn't make the bus come any faster. It doesn't allow the grocery line to move more quickly, the traffic won't disappear and so on and so on. In the everyday waiting outside of our control, it helps to pay attention and to empathize. You're stuck in traffic but have you noticed the sunset? You're in the line at the grocery store but did you notice the bright-eyed baby that will smile and giggle at you? Did you notice that their mom is at the end of her rope, she feels the weight on her shoulders? Honestly, I think we don't because we like the rush from our responses of impatience, annoyance, and even anger.
2.) I think there's an importance and certain amount of perspective that is displayed with intentional waiting. It is not something you have to wait for but you realize it's need is not immediate. There's an amount of self-control that is displayed. You could satisfy your desire right now but choose to forego doing so for a payoff later down the road. Modern life makes this difficult. Modern life says, "I want it now!". Modern life gives into this rush of immediate gratification which in return may cheapen the item or cheapen our experience. In fact, right now, the Dove chocolate "motivational wrap" at my desk says 'What are you waiting for?'. Maybe we should all try a little intentional waiting.
3.) I've been contemplating the phrase "wait on the LORD" recently. Variations of it can be found all throughout Scripture (one of the most recognizable verses is Psalm 27:14). And in a way, all of Scripture is a revelation of mankind waiting for the LORD. What occurred to me today, is that we are to wait on the Lord. It does not say to hesitate on the Lord. Often, I hesitate on the Lord. I'm uncertain if He will act on my behalf. I am uncertain if He really is who He says. It's like starting to brake at the yellow light but not being sure if it will ever turn green again. So you just barrel through it. Sometimes, this is how crashes occur. Then, you're forced to stop and wait. Waiting on Him is intentional, decided, and certain. Not certainty in your circumstances. It is certainty in who He is. And He is the Great I AM.
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