Hurry up and wait...

Thursday before Christmas seems to have a theme. Wait. Those are the nastiest combination of four letters in our language. Years ago George Carlin produced a record (see how old) of the seven words you can’t say on TV, I would add one more wait.
It began when at 6:20 am I waited for a train at the blandford crossing on Blue jay road. It was a short train. As I headed to Memorial Hospital (7:30am) I was detoured at Veterans Parkway by a closed I-516 (accident), winding back and around I ended up on Montgomery. I waited. At Memorial patient information could not find the patient I was looking for (lost and found) so I made a call to be sure I was at the right hospital (I have gone to the wrong one), right name, spelling etc. Try again the patient is in surgery (unexpected) and then recovery for a few more hours. That word again. On my way home I called (on hold) regarding redirection of a package and they cannot help. In Garden City I waited for a train again. It continued to move (sometimes they don’t). Back in the office I waited for the FedEx® site to come up. That UGLY word again.
Along the way I stopped at the bank as saw a friend whom I have not seen in several years. He asked about several things that we are well just waiting on the next step at the church etc. There is nothing else to do but wait. That is how we learn patience by waiting. UGH! Normally by now I would be fuming because my schedule is not going how I planned. Wait is THE ugliest word. While talking God reminded me I am to follow. Wait (ugh) for my direction and then follow, on HIS time, in HIS way, by HIS schedule. We wait and wait for Christmas and then it come and goes too fast. It lasted while we were waiting but then it’s gone.
Life is so like that. Hurry up and wait for the most amazing thing and then it comes and goes so fast. Children come to mind, born then grown in what seems to be a split second. There must a better way. How about this? As we WAIT (ugh) we enjoy the time. While waiting for Christmas, let’s enjoy the preparations. While waiting for a table at a restaurant, let’s enjoy the company. While waiting for the return of Jesus, let live on purpose and the plan will be revealed. Today (our lifetime) is but an instant in eternity. We are made for eternity and this life is waiting for eternity.
Maybe WAIT is not so bad after all. I think I’ll try to enjoy it while I am waiting.