“Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” (Proverbs 8:34)

“Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” (Proverbs 8:34)

In this age of instantaneous gratification, the act of waiting is not an easy task, in fact, it can be downright frustrating. Waiting for anything, whether it be for a bus, the dentist, or even our food at a restaurant, makes us anxious. We want the waiting to be over so we can get on with our next project, our next chore or undertaking. Yet by treating waiting in such a way, we deny ourselves a most valuable opportunity.

Waiting and watching, without wanting or becoming frustrated, can be a very meaningful – even profound spiritual experience. Sitting quietly, relaxing the mind, breathing deeply and maintaining a calm will allow us to be in the moment and perhaps even observe little details and occurrences that we might otherwise miss. One might liken it to the “stop and smell the roses,” or “be here, now” sayings.

Fr. Alexander Schmemann wrote in his journals how he loved to sit at airports waiting for his plane. It gave him a chance to read, of course, but more so, he loved to just sit and observe the people coming and going by. The joyous reunions of family and loved ones, the tearful goodbyes between spouses or children. All this he loved and drank in heartily.

In essence, waiting patiently is another way we come to experience life more fully and appreciate the world and all its beauty… all of which leads us to God the Creator.

So, the next time you must wait for something, use the time as an opportunity to become more awake, more in the moment. Instead of waiting for that something, simply wait – without expectations. Simply stopping, and waiting, with an open mind.

Fr. John