It’s the early into Lent. How’s it going so far? Are you holier, more reverent, a better witness? Have you thought about how this “season of waiting” is affecting you? Maybe you haven’t had the time?
We are not used to waiting. We call, tweet, text, download, upload, blog, and have a Facebook account. We never lose touch. We possess iPhones, Blackberries, razors, Bluetooth devices, iPods, iPads, laptops, and plenty of apps. We don‘t wait for anything. Many of us consider “waiting” to be a kind of disaster if it happens to interrupt our regular routine.
The Church asks us to “wait” on purpose during Lent. In the midst of our technology, we strive to control and separate the various aspects our lives. During Lent we are reminded that our lives are dynamic and always changing. Unexpected occasions of waiting should be one of our privileges.
Waiting requires trust, calm, vision, courage, and stillness. During Lent we wait on the Lord, literally. We come face to face with the reality that we are not in control and we must wait according to the Lord’s time, not ours.
Wait kind of “waiter” are you? Do you wait with despair, anger, impatience, or maybe frustration? None of these will improve your spiritual life or your writing. Remember that emotions will always “tell” in whatever we write.
This is the time to take stock of your Lenten waiting. Reality in the spirit is that all of us are waiting all of the time. We are all the ones separated from God, by sin, by choice, by accident, by grief, by guilt, and by blame. We are all desperately waiting for the coming of the Lord who will heal and soothe us in His full revelation and glory.
There is a key to “beneficial waiting.” Scripture shows us that the Lord never stops seeking us. When we wouldn’t listen He sent his son. Embracing that truth is the remedy to our lack of patience and woundedness.
“Fear not, for I am with you; from the east I will bring back your descendants, from the west I will gather you. Everyone who is named is mine, whom I created for my glory whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:5-7)
During this Lent, pay attention to the occasions of waiting that “pop up.” Expand your view of waiting as a spiritual tool. Practice finding the joy in the art of waiting and don’t forget to tell the world that in the scheme of things, waiting is an occasion of gift from a parent who wants to give you nothing but the best.
Copyright© 2015, Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn M. Cunningham
Kathryn holds a Master’s in Education from Saint Xavier University. Most recently she completed Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from The Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. This recent degree was part of a “retirement project” after teaching for 35 years. She has also worked as a spiritual director, music minister,council member and prayer team warrior. Kathryn has a deep interest in catechesis for the people in the pews. As a “sort of” convert she finds the wisdom of the Church a source for encouragement, joy and survival in a world not sure of anything. Her writing has appeared in diocesan publications and on-line sites, most recently for Zenit. To learn more about Kathryn check out her thinking at: www.atravelersview.org">ATravelersView.org.
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