Dec. 10 - Fingering the wounds of waiting

Devotion

We live in a perpetual state of waiting. We are always waiting to finish the week, meet Mr. or Mrs. Right, find the perfect job, figure out the perfect words. We stretch our necks toward the future, sure that what we need is just over the horizon.

Whatever it is we’re waiting for, there’s one thing that everyone knows: waiting is . In fact, sometimes it’s downright painful. The very fact that we’re waiting for something implies imperfection in our lives. We are wounded, somehow, and it seems we have lots of time to bleed.

Advent is a time of waiting for Jesus. Even though the actual babe was born years ago, we still wait for Jesus, because unanswered questions remain on our souls like open wounds. So we pray and wait, and it hurts.

But this waiting for Jesus, for healing, is not wasted time. While we wait we can look at the wounds straight-on with all their pus and crustiness, and get to know them and the secret part of ourselves that they reveal. We can look through them and see other people with the same injuries. Light can flow through the ruptures. And when healing is finally complete, we have the blessing of looking back and seeing how God has actually been working .

So this advent, as you wait for whatever it is you’re waiting for, don’t let the gifts of waiting slip by. Remember even in your anticipation: God is here, now.