Waiting

It would be interesting to be able to tally up the hours any of us have spent waiting in lines throughout the course of our years. Waiting takes on many aspects for each of us, depending on what or who it is that we await. Waiting in an emergency room for news of a loved one's condition differs from waiting in line to receive one's college diploma. Waiting for a train taking you off to a foreign country for military duty is quite different from waiting in line for an order of McNuggets. Then, there's the waiting for God: for the numinous and the Divine to make Itself known in our hearts and souls.

In his Four Quartets T. S. Eliot says: "...the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting..."The Psalmist advises: "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage..."

Today the Week of Prayer for Christian and Interfaith Unity focusses on this theme of waiting:

Day Two: Changed through patient waiting for the Lord
Let it be so now, for it is proper to fulfil all righteousness (Matt. 3:15)

On this day we concentrate on patient waiting for the Lord. To achieve any change, perseverance and patience are needed. Prayer to God for any kind of transformation is also an act of faith and trust in his promises. Such waiting for the Lord is essential for all who pray for the visible unity of the church this week. All ecumenical activities require time, mutual attention and joint action. We are all called to co-operate with the work of the Spirit in uniting Christians.

In what situations in our life should we have a greater trust in God's promises?

What areas of church life are particularly at risk from the temptation to act hastily?

In what situations should Christians wait, and when should they act together?