Playing The Waiting Game

Merriam Webster defines waiting as "To stay in place, to remain stationary, in readiness or expectation."  We are all waiting for something, it's part of the human condition.  We all want something, a possession, a desire, a new love, something. My Christian friends are waiting for Jesus to return.   But what should we do in order to obtain our desire?  How shall we live our lives, make use of our time, or conduct ourselves while we're playing the Waiting Game?  This week, we are going to explore the topic of waiting and possibly answer a few questions.

Life is a Waiting Game, we wait and we wait.  I remember my grandmother saying, she was always waiting for someone.  It could have been my grandfather to drive her grocery shopping or Aunt Barbara coming to pick her up for the holiday celebrations.  My grandma did not drive, so she was dependent on others.  But she always seemed to be waiting, sitting in her chair by the window, waiting.  

I've played the waiting game over the years.  As a child it was waiting for Santa, my birthday, summer, or a play date with a friend.  As I got older, it was waiting for the phone to ring, the promise of a new job, places to go, people to meet.  I can remember waiting for that someone special to call (I'm still waiting) or the count down to a vacation.  My life has been a Waiting Game, as I'm sure it's been for everyone else.

I can remember waiting in anticipation for my first trip to the UK in 2016.  Laying out clothes, changing my money to British pound sterling, and checking the weather app.  I went back to the UK alone in 2018 and I still played the waiting game, same game, different year.  This trip had more anticipation as I was alone and a little apprehensive as a woman traveling by herself.  Last year's trip was with a trusted friend.  The weeks of waiting and planning flew by and finally, we met up in London and had a glorious time.  All the trips were of varying lengths of time away, all were such fun and all had to end.  The waiting game was played and then the "let down."  Now what, what's next?

What's Next is also part of the waiting process.  It's again, part of the human condition.  All good times must come to an end as my mother was always quick to remind me, but they are usually followed up by another good time, another new friend or simply a new time in life.

I've come up with a few ideas of how to play the Waiting Game and solving the problem of What's Next?  Hopefully my readers will agree and offer suggestions of more.

1.  Plan the next adventure as soon as you get home.  Start planning a year in advance, tweek the map by adding new sites to see.  Put together your dates and try to stick to them.  In normal times, I start booking reservations 9 months in advance.  These days I'm not so sure.

2.  Pray God will lead you in the right direction for your next life's journey.  This does not apply only to travel but romance, friendships, classes to take etc.  God will lead you if you open your mind and heart to receive direction.

3. Journal every day.  Set your intentions and stick to them.  I know, this journaling "thing"  has probably become annoying to my readers but it's important.  I have used that darn journal for everything from healing my broken heart to what I'm having for dinner.  I try as best as possible to stick to the plan and make it work.  The Waiting Game doesn't seem as long and What's Next becomes a daily discussion with me, myself and I.

4. Exercise daily.  I'm repeating myself for sure but it's important.  A morning walk, work out at the gym or pulling weeds in the garden can be used to create a meditation while in the Waiting Game.

5.  Trust your instincts, let go and let God.  If something doesn't feel right, take a step back and ask God to give a sign.  He will, he always does.  During the wait, if our minds are open, we'll hear God speak to us in various ways.  He always affirms and our wait will be worth it.

6.  Enjoy life for the moment.  Moments are what we are in now.  Moment by moment we can breath in the essence of life, love and happiness and that wait will seem so much less the burden, while we play the Waiting Game and ask What's Next.

Since I quoted out of the Daily Word last week, I'm going to start to quote from it every week.  I receive so much peace from it's simple statements.  

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 the daily affirmation was Wait.  "One with God, I wait, breathing into the unknown."

"In Hebrew, one translation of the word wait, or Qavah, is to bind together.  As I wait for news about certain outcomes or grapple for answers to a troubling issue, I imagine myself intertwined with God like sturdy strand of Cord, bound together as one.  Holding this image relieves any anxiety I may be feeling.

"One with God, I relax, breathe into the unknown, and wait.  Rather than trying to force a particular outcome, I rest in God and trust in divine wisdom.

"I see this interlude as a respite for my soul.  As I exercise patience, I cultivate my spiritual mettle.  When the pause is over, I am renewed and ready to act from God-given insight."

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. Psalm 130:5