Waiting for Tomorrow

Those of you who know me--Ruth--know my propensity to want to plan and to get things done. After all these years, I still often find myself waiting impatiently and anxiously for tomorrow. Waiting for spring and warmer weather. Waiting for conversations to wind down so I can get to my "to do" list for the day. Waiting for more certainty about our next move. Waiting for what comes after that--and where we'll eventually settle. Waiting to be a part of a local church body again and wondering what shape that will take. Waiting to hug in person our children and grandchildren again. Waiting for governments to lend justice and show respect for all peoples.

In waiting for tomorrow, I too often miss out on today.

As we enter this season of Lent when we remember Jesus's waiting to go to Jerusalem a final time, I ponder how he handled the waiting.

He frequently warned his disciples about his impending suffering and death (Luke 9:22) but did not let that deter him from continuing the journey (Luke 9:51).

Entering Jerusalem that last week, he wept over the city as he contemplated its future (Luke 19:41-44), yet he fully engaged in the justice he could bring about now as he overturned the money changers' tables in the temple and healed the blind and the lame (Luke 19: 45-46; Matthew 21:12-14).

At the Last Supper he admitted that he couldn't wait to eat this meal with his twelve disciples (Luke 22:14-16), even though he compassionately spent the past years feeding the masses (Luke 9:10-17).

Jesus anticipated in the near future being reunited "bodily" with His Father (John 14:28), but in the present he joyfully used the necessary means to connect with Him via prayer (Mark 1:35).

Even though the end of praying led him to know he was going to a cross (John 18:1, 4), Jesus did not shrink back from those who sought him, regardless of their reason for doing so. "Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?'
'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied.
'I am He,' Jesus said." (John 18:4-5)

I seldom observe Lent by giving up something, but this Lenten season, I'm choosing to give up waiting for tomorrow in order to engage fully in the present. That being said, I also choose not to make this another task to complete, but a means to consciously enter into the timelessness of God's eternity today with the voice of the one who answered in the darkest night, "I am He. I am the one you seek."

If anyone wants to join me in this discipline, I'd be happy to keep in touch regularly over Lent so we can share together the moments we experience each day of being fully engaged in the present, but also the anxious thoughts that keep us from living in the 'today'. - Ruth

Comments

  1. BettyFebruary 20, 2018 at 3:53 PM

    This is so good, Ruth, and is something I try to keep in front of me always.."live in the present moment." Planning ahead is necessary but living ahead robs us of "today." Thanks for those good reminders.

    ReplyDelete

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