The Waiting

repost from my myspace blog, 8-13-07

Today was the first day for teachers at school today, and as I prepared to go in this morning, I must admit I wasn't feeling as enthusiastic about entering the coming school year as I probably should. I love kids, and I'm good at teaching, but I know that it's not my final destination. So every time a new year starts, there's always this question- "When, Lord?" Or this one - "ANOTHER year, Lord?"

This morning in worship I was thinking about the discomfort of the waiting period; the time before one is fully launched into what she's called to do. And then it occurred to me that Jesus had a waiting period too. Here was a man, the Son of God, who had come to earth to change the very course of humanity, a man whose life would serve the greatest purpose ever known... and he was a carpenter. A laborer. A blue collar worker.

Prior to the start of His ministry, throughout the course of his twenties, did Jesus feel completely fulfilled, sanding boards and sawing planks? Probably not. He knew there was more for him. His purpose wasn't to come to earth to sand- it was to save.

Did he get impatient, knowing that carpentry wasn't all He was supposed to do? Absolutely not. At the wedding of Cana, he could have jumped up and volunteered His miraculous power, but His mom was the one who prompted him. He had to remind his mother that his time hadn't come yet. He wasn't about to jump the gun and launch himself into his ministry prematurely. He knew that there was an appointed time.

Did Jesus lose sight of the fact his time hadn't come yet, that this was just a part of the waiting required before the perfect time arrived? Certainly not. While Jesus was working, he increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). And I'm positive he knew the value of the work he was doing, not because making a bench would change the world, but the life lessons learned WHILE making the bench would develop Him, and then He would change the world.

So that's where I'm at. Maybe putting up a bulletin board or grading a paper doesn't give me an amazing feeling of purpose fulfillment. But the things that Jesus is teaching me while I grade a year's worth of papers are preparation for the launch into the next phase. So this year, I determine to eke out every drop of whatever it is that God has to show me; to find value in the waiting.