It can be really hard to wait sometimes. Think about being a kid counting down the days until Christmas–the anticipation, the anxiety of wondering if one has been “naughty or nice” enough to merit presents this year, the sense of “will it ever get here.” For those of us who were fortunate enough to grow up in loving families who had the financial means to make Christmas a special event with gifts and good food and fun, the days and hours of waiting had us fairly bursting with anticipation.
Waiting can also involve a period of intense anxiety–wondering if you passed an important exam, waiting for x-rays or medical test results to come back from the lab, listening out for the “all clear” siren after a serious storm. Time is definitely too slow for those who wait; because whether one is expecting something “good” to happen or anticipating something “bad,” more often than not we want whatever’s going to happen to hurry up already. And then suddenly, after all the weeks, days, and hours of waiting, the event is suddenly here and in not too much longer it becomes an afterthought.
I have had periods of waiting and will have plenty more before it’s all said and done. What I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that how I wait is what makes the difference between excruciating anxiety and relative calm acceptance. It doesn’t really matter the situation, fretting doesn’t make anything happen any faster. What happens in the process is what matters. We build things up in our imaginations until what we’re waiting for has become so big it has taken on a life of its own. If I could learn to remain peaceful and calm in the midst of waiting for something to happen, my life would be a whole lot easier. I truly wish I could learn this lesson–it’s on my list of really useful tools to enhance my wellbeing and sense of serenity.
I am given numerous, frequent opportunities to develop the capacity to wait patiently for something. I’m grateful for these learning experiences, for the opportunity to sharpen my waiting skills. Let me approach each situation in which I find myself waiting, with patience, understanding, and calm. It’s a lofty goal, but an attainable one, provided I can be patient with myself when I demonstrate my impatience with delay. In the meantime I’ll be guided by grace and gratitude during those moments I spend waiting. May it be so!
