Wednesday, April 8, 2009

I want it NOW.

See this girl?

You might know her as Veruca Salt, the kicking, screaming, whining little girl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.The one who wants the world, the whole world. The one who wants it now.

Actually -- and this may come as a surprise to you -- Veruca is my twin. Or maybe my alter ego, to be more accurate. You see, we both want it now. And while I am past the stamping-my-foot-and-screaming stage (because, after all, I am a little too old for that kind of caper), I still don't like to wait.

I was talking to Lauren and Staish about this yesterday: a few years ago, I would never have described myself as impatient. I probably didn't think of myself as particularly patient, either. I was just on a mellow plane. Que sera sera. But the last couple of years have been revealing to me rather unpleasantly that I don't like waiting at all. It's kind of embarrassing to discover this about oneself, to realise that as soon as I decide I need something or have to do something, I must obtain it or do it immediately.

I have been calling 2009 by many different names. It's been labelled the Year of Correspondence, the [Half] Year of Writing Furiously, the Year of Changes. Now I think it's also the Year of Learning to Wait. As I write, there are about half a million (okay, maybe a dozen) things I am waiting for.

I am waiting to hear back from a prospective employer regarding some freelance writing work. I am waiting to get paid for some work I have already done. I am waiting to find out if I got accepted into the college I applied to. I am waiting for Kevin Rudd to make a neat little donation to my bank account. I am waiting for a story to appear in print.

And that doesn't even take into consideration the big things, the people things, the faith things -- like waiting to meet a special man. Or waiting to see my niece and nephew again. Waiting for God to bring me a fresh revelation of His character. Hey, I'm even waiting for Easter Monday to arrive so that I can go buy cheap Easter candy.

There is so much to wait for.

I don't know what all this waiting is meant to cultivate. Patience, sure, but patience for what, exactly -- more waiting? Eep.

That's probably true, though. I don't think we ever reach a point in our life when we're able to say we're not waiting for anything. The waiting never stops. It has been said that loneliness is the human condition. Well, maybe it's just one of them. Maybe waiting is the human condition, too. So if it's going to continue, it's in our best interests -- nay, it's to His glory -- if we learn to wait well.

Help me, God, to be a faithful waiter.

For God alone, oh my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
--Psalm 62:5,6,8.

9 comments:

  1. That's funny! I like that girl :P

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  2. So true, Danielle!!! Thanks for writing that and sharing. It really challenged me to be patient!!

    BTW, I received your letter yesterday!!! Yay!!!!

    Oh, and also I have been meaning to say for a while that I was sorry to hear of Whatsoever's close. I totally understand, but I'll miss it. Can't wait to hear of the exciting opportunities God will open up instead.

    Love you muchly
    Caitlin

    (PS. I seem to be getting into a habit of writing long comments. I'll work on condensing them.)

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  3. Caitlin -- wow; I only posted the letter Sunday afternoon! (thanks so much for your patience with slack old me :D)

    Your comment was so lovely and encouraging. I'll miss Whatsoever, too -- a lot! But it'll be exciting to see what new things God has up His sleeve.

    Please don't ever feel like you have to condense your comments; long ones are my especial favourite :).

    Love. xox

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  4. Totally with you there, sister. Patience is not my strongest virtue either... :) xo

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  5. I know exactly what you mean! Been there also... There was a year (I don't remember exactly what year) that I remember thinking "This entire year has been one of waiting on this, that and the other!" Realizing that it was a season of waiting helped me not be quite so frustrated.
    Love,
    Sarah

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  6. I know I've already commented but I wanted to ask you a question: I was trying to get my Twitter link onto the side of my blog but it kept saying the link was broken ~ would be so kind as to tell me how you got yours to work?
    Thanks so much...
    Rach

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  7. Rach, to simply include a link to your twitter in your links list, insert your twitter URL (not your twitter homepage) into the appropriate slot in the link element. Your URL would be:

    http://twitter.com/RachAxe

    To import your tweets to a sidebar, go here:

    http://twitter.com/widgets

    Hope that helps! Let me know how you get on. xox

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  8. Thanks for the post Danielle. Very challenging. I've been thinking about impatience and frustration recently and this was a good reminder. Thanks

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  9. Sorry for not getting back until now, Danielle. What you told me was extremelly helpful! It worked.... YAY!!!!!!! Thankx so much :)

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