Waiting
"Inigo Montoya: I do not suppose you could-a speed things up?
Man in Black: If you're in such a hurry you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find something useful to do.
Inigo Montoya: I could do that. I have some rope up here, but I do not think you would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.
Man in Black: That does put a damper on our relationship.
Inigo Montoya: But, I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top.
Man in Black: That's VERY comforting, but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.
Inigo Montoya: I hate waiting."
-- The Princess Bride
Me too. Today I found out that I've fallen through a crack in the Blizzard HR system. It might even be my fault. But the short version of the story is that I don't start work next Monday. I start the Monday after.
Yes, I know. #richpeopleproblems. I was reminded recently of the number of people in Grove City who have lost jobs or recently had to find new work, and Sharon and my most recent big decision was keep the two jobs we had that were really good or transplant ourselves across country to two other jobs waiting for us. I shouldn't complain.
But waiting is hard:
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
“What have you done?” asked Samuel.
-- 1 Samuel 13:7b-11a
Trusting God is hard, not easy. Trusting God is harder when the ways you see God work aren't the things He does this time. Then to be asked to just hold off and wait? Don't start next week - just start the week after.
It should be easy enough. I'm sure I'll wish I had a week off in a month or two. A whole week to unpack things still in boxes, or straighten rooms still disorganized, or to write down that hymn arrangment Shelly keeps pestering me for (in her defense, she's bothered me less than once every five years, so it's not exactly pestering.)
But it's just another break in pattern. More time to worry if this was the right decision. More time to worry on all the stresses it is adding to our family life. More time to worry on the friends I miss in Grove City. More time to worry.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying [make their new job start one hour sooner]?"
-- Jesus in Matthew 6:25-27, with a slight change from me
So it's a reflection of my mood and spiritual confusion right now that even this blessing seems annoying. Boy do I need help.
Man in Black: If you're in such a hurry you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find something useful to do.
Inigo Montoya: I could do that. I have some rope up here, but I do not think you would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.
Man in Black: That does put a damper on our relationship.
Inigo Montoya: But, I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top.
Man in Black: That's VERY comforting, but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.
Inigo Montoya: I hate waiting."
-- The Princess Bride
Me too. Today I found out that I've fallen through a crack in the Blizzard HR system. It might even be my fault. But the short version of the story is that I don't start work next Monday. I start the Monday after.
Yes, I know. #richpeopleproblems. I was reminded recently of the number of people in Grove City who have lost jobs or recently had to find new work, and Sharon and my most recent big decision was keep the two jobs we had that were really good or transplant ourselves across country to two other jobs waiting for us. I shouldn't complain.
But waiting is hard:
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
“What have you done?” asked Samuel.
-- 1 Samuel 13:7b-11a
Trusting God is hard, not easy. Trusting God is harder when the ways you see God work aren't the things He does this time. Then to be asked to just hold off and wait? Don't start next week - just start the week after.
It should be easy enough. I'm sure I'll wish I had a week off in a month or two. A whole week to unpack things still in boxes, or straighten rooms still disorganized, or to write down that hymn arrangment Shelly keeps pestering me for (in her defense, she's bothered me less than once every five years, so it's not exactly pestering.)
But it's just another break in pattern. More time to worry if this was the right decision. More time to worry on all the stresses it is adding to our family life. More time to worry on the friends I miss in Grove City. More time to worry.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying [make their new job start one hour sooner]?"
-- Jesus in Matthew 6:25-27, with a slight change from me
So it's a reflection of my mood and spiritual confusion right now that even this blessing seems annoying. Boy do I need help.
