Waiting? Or preparation?

In the church sometimes it seems as though we do a lot of waiting. Wait for the service to start — or end. Wait for the choir. Wait for the meeting. Wait for the money. Wait for the children. Wait for the announcement. Mostly we wait simply because we want to do certain things together, to be synchronized for a shared experience.

Wise parents encourage their children to do safe and age-appropriate things now as a way of discovering their abilities and interests. Wise parents also advise their children that though some things look interesting or easy, the children may not be ready on some level (mental, physical, emotional). There is benefit to doing, and also benefit to waiting.

What about waiting when there is a desire but no direct path? Think of wanting a better job or finding a life partner. It is not easy to wait with hope when every day seems the same, and there is no clear way to move forward. Waiting for the time, waiting to be old enough or tall enough, plodding through daily routine are not just pointless if we look beyond them. Both short and long waiting can be useful as preparation.

Though we tend to think we have the answers, that we know enough to go ahead, we forget that we do not know as much as we think. The unwise think that they are ready for anything, anytime. The wise recognize that there are things that are yet unknown. It is most difficult to wait when it involves another’s schedule. You can make a move now, but it may be dangerous, wasted, or ineffective until all things are in place. Some call it luck, but luck is simply when preparation meets opportunity.

The scripture often advises, “Wait for the Lord,” even “Wait patiently for the Lord,” and “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength.” Tired of waiting? Why not prepare while you wait? Trust that God has a better way. When Jesus was human on earth, even he watched for the best time to accomplish what he came to do.

The season before Christmas is a time of waiting, but it is not just for Christmas. Advent season reminds us that there is more to what God will yet do, and that Christ Jesus will return. We are reminded to prepare and to be ready for his return.

So also, the season before Easter is a time of waiting, but more than just waiting. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. It is a season of preparation, of remembering what God has done in Christ Jesus to offer hope to the world. The waiting is preparation more fully to appreciate the joy and triumph of Easter.

It is easy to complain about waiting. It is hard work to use the time to gain understanding, but when God’s time comes, we want to be prepared!