WAIT FOR IT

The tension was building from the middle of my back, up to my shoulders, into the back of my neck, and finally back down my shoulders into my arms. My hands aggressively squeezed the steering wheel to the point of feeling like it was going to snap in half. Releasing one hand, I pulled back my whole arm as if I was drawing back the string of a bow, then releasing the pent-up energy at full force I slammed my fist into the center of the steering wheel, pile driving the horn almost into obliteration.  “GO!” I shouted…the stop light had been green for almost a full second before the car ahead of me finally started to move, and then proceeded to go only 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. I have unlimited patience for many things.  For instance, I’ll wait full seconds, minutes, hours, all day, and sometimes days to get a glimpse of a whitetail deer, to feel the heavy tug on a fishing pole, or just to see another spectacular sunrise. I’m just not patient for others, especially when I’m running late.

Two years ago, we planted a pear tree in our backyard. The purpose of the tree is to help support pollinators, add pretty flowers in the spring, and maybe even produce some fruit.  Other than looking like a scrawny tree, it didn’t bear many results that first year.  I was okay with that because I heard it usually takes three years or more for a tree to produce much of anything. This is the second year and it has already shown its delicate little white flowers - about four weeks went by from sight of the first bud until full bloom, and it was well worth the wait.  Now, I’m patiently waiting to see what it will look like next spring and the years that follow.

Lamentations 3: 25-26 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.