Days of Preparation: Week One/Session Three.

Theme: God’s Unconditional Love for Me.

Our reading for today: Psalm 131.

Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131: 3 (MsgB)

I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who is often credited with this modern-day proverb:

There are only two things certain in life: death and taxes.

As I reflect today upon Psalm 131, I’d like to propose to old Ben a third option: Waiting.

As I see it, a good portion of my lifetime has been spent waiting. Waiting, you see, starts really early on in life. Actually, even before we’re born, we’re waiting in our mother’s womb for a whole nine months!

Then, we’re born and the life of waiting really begins.

Waiting for mom to change my diaper, or make me a sandwich, or tell me to make my bed.

Waiting for dad to give me my allowance, or take me fishing, or teach me how to fly a kite.

Waiting for summer vacation, or a best friend to call, or my favorite TV show to begin.

Later in life, waiting can begin to get pretty difficult, indeed…

Waiting for the right person to come into my life; that first date or that first kiss.

Waiting for that first job offer; that next paycheck or the promotion I certainly deserve.

Waiting for a baby to be born; a loved one to get well, or a broken relationship to heal.

Waiting to be recognized; or for that success that is supposedly right around the corner.

Waiting for the doctor’s prognosis; the divorce to be final, or the other shoe to drop.

And finally, waiting to die.

You see, waiting is not an option in the human condition. Like it or not, waiting is a big part of this life. So, with that given awareness, one thought remains:

I’ve been waiting most of my life. But WHO have I been waiting with?

Psalm 131 suggests that life goes best when I wait with hope. But sadly, a quick review of my last sixty-three years indicates to me that I’ve spent much more time waiting with my other buddies:

Despair. Depression. Worry. Anxiety. Sadness. Shame. Guilt.

Oh yeah, and wait for it…Hopelessness.

You know those guys? I bet you do.

Most human beings who live a typical life have been introduced to this gang. Many times, these ‘friends’ are already there, willing to sit on the bench with me while I wait for the next bus in life to come by.

But today. I sense a new breath of life. A new friend. A new choice I can make.

In my waiting, I can move away from these old friends who bring me down, step over to another bench where hope is sitting and plop myself down there for a spell. I’m guessin’ that the conversation will be much more delightful. Much more hopeful.

Don’t you?

My prayer: Father God, it’s obvious that waiting is just part of this thing called life. So with Your help and encouragement today, I choose to wait with hope. Holy Spirit, pull up a chair and wait with us, will You? For Your name’s sake. Amen.

My questions to ponder: Waiting with hope? What might that look like for me today? What old destructive friends are calling my name, trying to woo me into their corner? What action steps can I take right now to move away from these familiar buddies and make a new, lasting relationship with hope?

So what is God speaking to you today as we ponder together The Ignatian Adventure?

Over an eight month period, you and I will be working our way through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. For more information on our journey and how to begin…click here!

To go onto the next journal entry…click here.