Waiting...

The name of the game today was waiting.

It hit me on the way home from work. A stop sign. A simple right turn from there onto a two-lane highway. It can be a bit of a wait there at times. I was pleased when I came up to the intersection and noted that I was #2 in line. The guy ahead of me was taking a left, which can be a bit trickier for obvious reasons, but this wasn't going to be too bad. I just happened to notice the time as I pulled up. Waited a bit. A bit more. Started to marvel at the unique traffic patterns that elongated the typical stay at that spot. And then waited a bit more. Wondered if this was what it was always like at that time (I left work about five minutes or so later than I usually do). Waited a little longer. Couldn't he have gone just then? How about then?! Calm down, no rush. Just a bit more waiting, that's all. He finally had a clearing and went and I did the 'rolling stop' thing and pulled out. Noted the length of my stay there at about three and a half minutes.

Three and a half minutes.

Maybe a shade under four.

Some people (albeit not your normal, everyday type) can run a mile in that much time. An appropriate acceptance speech at an awards ceremony. Maybe an at-bat that goes to a full count. And I was idling and keeping the gas companies happy. But that three and a half minutes felt like an eternity.

I then remembered a phrase that I knew would greet me at some point during the evening when I got home. "I can't wait!". Somebody here turns ten tomorrow. Those words popped up last week and I knew they would make another appearance. And I understand why. Birthdays can be hard to wait for. Just before I started typing this out, the idea was even considered to potentially open a gift tonight. (She has the same birthday gift protocol as her father and that thought was quickly put aside...though she still 'can't wait' until tomorrow.)

Let's be honest. Waiting is a skill.

It's also one of the things I marvel at about the Christmas season. The waiting is over.

I try to imagine the typical good Jewish family at the time of Christ's birth. Properly taught and with a heart tuned toward the God that they were commanded to worship and awestruck by all that He communicated to them, they were in full waiting mode. The answer is coming. He will deliver us. He will save us. The messiah, the messiah...

And then another major life experience or two or three and a half goes by and there they were still...well, waiting.

As the shepherds made their way from the hills to the stable to kneel in wonder at the provision heralded by the angels (ANGELS!! In the sky and everything!!), they began to get a sense. The waiting was over. Perhaps that's why they went about 'glorifying and praising God' and sharing the news of what had happened. No more waiting. He's here now! He's here!

Downtrodden soul filled with angst, worry, doubt, fear, condemnation and guilt, know that He has come. He's here now! No more waiting!