Ever said that?
You have waited and waited for something to happen and finally!
We went to a restaurant the other day with our family (Sunday after church and fortunately we beat the major influx of people by a hair). We had great service from our waitress. The food was delicious. The conversation was so-so since Braden was in one of those moods (he said he was hungry). I know it may surprise you that my grandson isn’t always smiles and laughter. 🙂 Anyway, the food took awhile to get to us because they were so busy. I have learned complaining isn’t going to get the food to the table any quicker.
I have watched people (as have you) weaving in and out of traffic trying to get one car further. I have a sick sense of humor when I catch the car and pass it because it got in the wrong lane. I’m just sayin’.
Maybe you have waited years for an answer to prayer; for what seems like years in a line; or for a light to come at the end of the long tunnel. And you wait. And you wait. When it happens one of the first words you say is “Finally!”
How about waiting for over 20 years for something and it FINALLY happens! Okay, so this is not a very spiritual thing, but my Pittsburgh Pirates finally broke the curse of 20 straight losing seasons with their win last night. They are guaranteed at least a .500 season. 20 years of futility finally over!!
It is easy to understand how they feel. Most of us tend to be on the impatient side of life. It isn’t easy waiting for things to get better, for an answer, for people to come together, to experience revival, for our teen to “get it,” for our spouse to come home. We tend to forget the old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It is certainly hard to see that good things come to those who wait on the Lord. Funny thing (not haha funny), we should become more patient the older we get. We should learn our lesson. Things should happen faster or so we think. But patience is a virtue in preparing for any task, or even in waiting for an end.
20 LONG YEARS FOR SOMETHING AS INSIGNIFICANT AS BREAKING A BASEBALL TEAM’S LOSING SEASON STREAK. Hmmm the Israelites wandered 40 for theirs. Sure glad the Bucs don’t have to endure that stretch. 🙂
How are you at waiting?
Oh…Ike this post is dedicated to you. 😛 My pick for MVP
It depends- on this waiting to get better- well, not so well! I just want these meds to kick in and take all of the sickness away (using three sick days in the third week of school is a bit ridiculous especially when I used three sick days ALL last year).
But at the same time- I know from experience that waiting deepens faith and my trust level increases… So, wait I will.
Oh, and Go BRAVES! 🙂
No one wants to wait on sickness to go away. But you are right: waiting does deepen faith. Oh, and Gag on your last comment.
I waited from the age of 8 until I was 30 for UT to win the national championship in 1998.
Now, I’m just waiting to see the fullness of how the Lord is going to use me in our church.
The latter is the one really worth waiting for. 🙂
Some would not count the time between winning seasons, but count the time between winning championships. So I think you have to go back to 1979 with your clock! O.K., so hopefully I didn’t harsh your mellow (or whatever the kids say) with that thought, but with waiting I am a mixed bag. Some things I am amazing patient with and others not so much. It all depends on your expectations with whatever you are waiting on.
In this case it is winning seasons. They will not finish below .500 this year and one more win will guarantee a winning season. The first step is done. The next will come soon. Like you, I am amazingly patient with some things but terribly impatient with others.
I’m seldom in a hurry. Some things I would like to see dispatched with a little more alacrity. But in general I like a nice, slow pace – always have been this way according to my elementary school report cards. And I don’t do well when people want something right now if not sooner. It’s who I am. I can go all out sometimes if it’s really necessary, but there is a cost I have to pay when I do.
A lot of Americans don’t know how to slow down and smell the honeysuckle. We are an impatient country overall. I think we miss a lot and pay a price for all of the bustling.
i wish i could say I’m seldom in a hurry. Never in a car. Ahem! 🙂 You are right though, we are paying the price for our hurry lifestyle.
Only in baseball would winning half the time be considered a good thing. I can’t think of any endeavor where losing as often as you win is somehow successful.
I am waiting for professional sports to eliminate cheats and druggies by banning the users and abusers for life. Not 50 games or 200 games but forever.
They need to follow the lead of the Olympics, NASCAR, F1, MOTO GP, Horse racing and others who put the game before the profits.
Until the wait is over I will not spend 2 dollars or 2 minutes on these pharmaceutically enhanced entertainers.
Well, like I told Daniel. They have guaranteed at least a .500 season. one more win guarantees them a winning season. They are at the top of their division. I agree with you to a point, but you can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Not all are users.
I like a cliche as much as anyone. It’s more like a turd in the punchbowl to me. I have nothing against those that like to drink it, I just prefer a different recipe.
Well, I will still watch baseball because other than cycling (yeah I know), i don’t watch nor care about any other sport. 🙂 I will enjoy what I can.
You definitely have me feeling old. The last time the Pirates were any good was when I was a college student in western PA. I can’t believe that was 20 years ago.
I’m I good at waiting? I think I’ve become more patient as I’ve gotten older, but I’m sure there are some things that I wish would hurry up.
yep 20 years ago. Long time. I think I have also gotten more patient about some things, but have to admit there are times impatience rules.
Doesn’t it seem like we’re always waiting for something? We should, check that, I should embrace the waiting. At the end of our waiting we’re done here… sobering thought. Wise post, Bill, you got me seriously thinking. Thanks.
I need to take a lick of my own medicine Floyd. I’m not always the best at waiting. Thanks.
I am waiting for a church building. I hate debt and we are only a year old so I’m waiting on God to open up a door. Waiting stinks. For sports or for other things.
We met for 6 years in a dirty, rented sports complex. We thought we had found another home at the school, but after 2 months or so they told us to we had to leave. So we went back to the complex. In 10/10 we found an abandoned Mormon church building (we had an exorcism 🙂 ). Unfortunately, I had little control over going into debt. But God has been good. We had to renovate for space and we paid cash for that. $85k. Your time will come Rob and you will know it is God’s hand.
The great thing about the Pirates…they are young! I think I told you I watched Neil Walker (Buc’s 2nd baseman)….play in the State final in football. He could have gone to the NFL.. but I think he made a wise choice. Nothing like graduating from high school and getting over a million bucks to sign your name.
For any sports fans out there…here is a short clip on why Chris Norman who played football for Michigan State….turned downed going into the NFL.
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/drafted-why-chris-norman-said-no-to-the-nfl
Oh…and about “waiting”. Going through chemo with my wife kind of puts waiting in perspective:-)
I remember you telling me about Neil Walker. I’m glad he chose baseball. 😉 I will check out your link at a later time. i was also wondering about Carol and how she was doing.
Depends on what I’m waiting for and why. I’m getting better with age. However, I have been waiting AND praying for over 30 years for a loved one to return to the Lord. I will continue to do both until the day I die.
Keep praying Karen.
First, let me just admit that I am a Lions’ fan. So yeah, I understand waiting. Second, being married to the most patient man alive creates a stark awareness of my own impatience. Used to be bitter about it but over the years have come to see it as a blessing from God, a constant reminder of my need to become more patient. Not there yet but improved. Having kids will either enhance impatience or grow patience. That’s my caffeine induced take on patience.
I don’t follow football but if I did it would be the Steelers. Jo is incredibly patient person also so I understand the being married to someone part. You and I have reacted the same way and as I allowed God to show me His way, I became less irritated and more appreciative of her “slowness.”
Great post, Big Brother. I read and one of those “finally” I’ve read out loud, knowing full well what you mean. I’ve been saying it all summer – FINALLY I have the one with whom I would like to start a family. I remember pacing in my “humongous” 5.5 sq. m. kitchen and audibly pleading with God to send me someone. Little did I know that He’s preparing him and is about to make us meet. Hehehe.
I love those “FINALLY!” prayers… when the waiting is over and you know what is going on once again (at least for a little bit).
I’m not too good at waiting. Some things I can wait for, but there are times when I talk God’s ears off about something.
i reckon God realized that kitchen was getting awfully small for you to continue pacing. 🙂 So glad you finally found someone Zee. You will make a great wife and woman of God. Waiting was well worth it. 🙂 Enjoy your life little sis.
LOL, well, the kitchen remained tiny (and with two people there, it gets even smaller), yet that no longer matters 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement, Bill. It really matters a lot.
I’m pretty good at waiting mostly. It is when I am extremely tired that I have a difficult time.
Yeah, tired is not good.
Waiting! Two and half months ago we bought some new living room furniture. Every week they told us a difference reason it had not arrived. Today it was because the truck was not in. Must admit I was mad enough to go stand outside their business and tell everyone who came to look at their furniture, don’t buy from this store, they are awful at keeping their word. So what ever thoughts I had at being good at waiting were completely squashed. Hard part is they already have our money. Ace is taking this much better then me for he has the patience of Job.
As for sports…sorry…got furniture on my mind…but glad your waiting is over.
Doing the right things when waiting is so crucial. I’m learning between where I am now and where I want to be in the future (Full time writer, coach, and speaker) requires practice, learning, mastering my talents and craft, and making sure I’m better on the inside than the outside. Great thoughts!