Waiting
Advent season is all about waiting. But not all waiting is the same. There are two specific kinds of waiting. The first kind is waiting for things we are certain will take place. This is the waiting of Advent – the nice joyous and exciting kind, with an appointed end that is the blessing and miracle of Christmas. The second kind is waiting without knowing what will happen. As we come to the end of Advent, we find ourselves still dealing with the more difficult second kind of waiting. While the first kind of waiting requires patience, the second kind of waiting requires trust. We are not sure that God will bring the good things we desire as we envision them, and perhaps not even as we prefer. As a people who believe that we who place our trust in God will not be disappointed, and drawing on all the hope, peace, joy and love that we have nurtured through the joy and excitement of Advent, the prayer committee offers the following reflections on waiting.
In scripture, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate and to trust. Trust requires faith, patience, humility and meekness. Biblically, waiting is an active verb indicating that to wait is to be aware with all your senses of what is going on around you and discerning the right time to do the next thing. Waiting is its own process. God uses waiting to increase our trust in him and let go of our perceived control. Waiting is not about what you will receive at the end of the wait, but what you will become as you wait. Waiting is important to God because the good times are easy, but the harder times are what build our faith and increase our confidence in Him.
“But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows. As it was in the time of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. They didn’t know what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. The coming of the Son of Man will be like that. At that time there will be two men in the field. One will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill. One will be taken and the other left. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know what day the Lord is coming. But you understand that if the head of the house knew at what time the thief would come, he would keep alert and wouldn’t allow the thief to break into his house. Therefore you also should be prepared, because the Son of Man will come at a time you don’t know.” – Matthew 24:37-44
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:25-26
“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
Centering prayer is a time to actively cultivate our faith and trust. The four guidelines for centering prayer are:
(i) Choose a sacred word. Words such as God, Jesus, Peace, Joy. Whatever word speaks to you and supports your intention to turn your attention to God.
(ii) Sit with your eyes closed and silently introduce the sacred word. Get comfortable and repeat your sacred word a few times. Settle into silence.
(iii) When you are distracted by other thoughts, return to your sacred word. Distractions are inevitable and normal. Just notice them and return to your sacred word.
(iv) At the end of your prayer period, remain quietly for a few minutes with your eyes closed. Readjust to your external senses and consider how the period of silence can be brought into the rest of your day.
Adapted from ‘Open Mind, Open Heart’ by Thomas Keating in the Forward Movement tract, Centering Prayer.