Waiting
“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.”
—
Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation of the coming of Messiah at Christmas. That coming is at the same time a past event, a present reality, and a future hope.
During Advent, we spiritually identify with God’s people of ancient days who waited for the promised Messiah to come. From generation to generation they waited, and while they waited, they continued to live their lives.
In this season of Advent 2021 our theme for worship is “While we wait . . .” The theme is a recognition that while we are waiting for something to happen, we continue to live each day with all that each day holds.
Waiting is a part of every life, every day. Waiting can be full of hope, peace, joy, and love. At the same time, waiting can be full of fear, anxiety, sadness, and boredom. Have you ever had to wait 45 minutes on hold to get help from Tech Support? There is only so much annoying, bad music I can stand to listen to!
How we handle waiting often reflects our relationship with God. The elder priest Simeon offers a great example of waiting in faith. Luke tells us Simeon was “just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25-35).”
As Simeon was waiting for Messiah he lived in close relationship with God, both in his actions of justice, and in his practices of prayer and worship. While Simeon waited, he faithfully lived his life in relationship with God.
How do you wait? Our lives are filled with busy activities, noises, and conflicts. In the midst of all the noise and distraction, the Spirit of God is present with us. In the drudgery of everyday work and to-do lists, God walks alongside us. In the grief and pain as in the joy and laughter, God is present. While you wait, are you present with God?
In what ways can you nurture your relationship with God while you are waiting? A breath prayer is one way to wait with God. A breath prayer is two words or short phrases, one word prayed as you inhale, one as you exhale. For example: “God is . . .love,” or “Be still. . . and know,” or “All shall. . . be well.” When commuting traffic is stressful, I sometimes use a breath prayer to center on the presence of God with me on the crowded roadway.
In other times you can be gratefully aware of God’s grace that is present in your life each day. God’s grace is known in the beauty of the sunset, a photo of a loved one, or a friend who calls to talk. Waiting in gratitude for what was and what is, allows you to wait in God’s presence for what is to come.
What you are waiting for is not as important as how you wait. As you wait, is your life just and devout? Is your waiting filled with the presence of God? Are you waiting in gratitude for what was, what is, as well as what is to come?
Thanks be to God for the gift of waiting, for without waiting, we might not know God’s presence with us.