Waiting

As we enter into the season of Advent, remember that Advent is about waiting.

 

We're not very good at waiting these days. We have created an instant culture, where we get fast food, or cook in microwaves, reduce our world to sound bites and video reconstructions and expect a quick pay back on our spiritual investment.

 

Jesus waited for millennia to show up on earth the first time. Now it's been a couple more thousand years waiting for Jesus to come back again. But when it finally happens, or when we leave this life for eternity, these years will be a blink of an eye, and we'll have a never ending moment to be with Jesus.

 

I almost said, "I can't wait," which is true, but a little ironic, because wait we must. And practicing waiting is good for all of us. Builds patience, and we all need that, especially this time of year.

 

So practice. When you're in that long line at the store, remember when it's finally your turn how hard it must be to be that employee helping everyone. Say something kind.

 

When you see that harried mother trying to herd children and shop, see if you can hold the door or help in some way. Or that older person struggling with packages, try to lighten their load.

 

Model waiting. Because after all, Jesus is waiting on us. Waiting on us to become the people God created us to be. And that really takes patience.

Sibling Rivalry

As parents we managed to avoid most sibling rivalry between our four offspring by raising them to root for each other, to take ownership in one another's successes so that instead of being jealous they were excited for each other. When one of them succeeds at some accomplishment, the rest feel proud.

Today Howard Snyder's daily Facebook prayer contained this line: "Fill me with your love and regard for others, and deliver me from all jealousy when others succeed or surpass me in areas where I would like to excel or be known."

My first thought was how comforting it was to know I'm not the only one who struggles this way, a form of misery loves company.

My second thought was that if I could take the same kind of ownership for others as my children  have for each other, I wouldn't feel jealous. 

Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." I've often said it can be easier to mourn with people than to rejoice with them. Rejoicing requires acceptance of their victory.

If I could truly own the sibling nature of humanity, then instead of sibling rivalry, feel a sense of partnership with others, I could rejoice when others succeed, instead of wishing that were me. And when I did succeed, I've have siblings rooting for me as well.

That is the essence of Howard's prayer, asking God to fill him with such love and regard for others that jealousy has no place. 

Lord, reshape us in this form. Give us courage to allow you to do so. Show us how to truly celebrate the victories of others, trusting you to give us the victories we need when we need them. Amen.

Hymns

Worship Wars started decades ago. When contemporary choruses came out, people battled over choruses versus hymns.

We sing both at our church. And I love both.

This week I had a younger person say she liked a certain group who were updating hymns. A funny video of someone else had a hip person say he liked hymns.

So hymns are "in" again. But then this need to update them.

I too have enjoyed some of the "updates," sometimes a faster pace, a different tune that's more singable. Our church loves the added chorus of "My Chains are Gone" to Amazing Grace.

But today as I was singing Blessed Assurance, I thought, "What's wrong with the old versions?"

Many of them were once bar tunes themselves, as Charles Wesley often used popular tunes for his hymns.

It doesn't really matter if we sing them with new hip tunes, a new pace, or the same old way. Many hymns have depth missing in some choruses.

Truth is, I love them both, which is why we still sing both at our church. Come on over.