Seven Woes, part 5
Woe to us when we squander today straining toward tomorrow.
Will we savor this gift called time?
[Note: These thoughts will be familiar to readers of
Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years and Yours.]
We may not say it out loud, but often we believe it in our guts. God, what’s up? I’m ready to do something. What am I still doing here? Why won’t you open a door? Why are you letting others hold me back?
In short, “God, 
you’re wasting my time.”
Sometimes we sabotage the potential of tomorrow by underestimating the potential of today.
A few decades ago, God addressed my view of time at an unexpected—but delicious—venue for a spiritual lesson: my first Chinese banquet in Hong Kong.
Course after course after course… I could not identify one that was just a filler or appetizer or
something to get through, to get past, to get on with the main course which was not here yet, but it was coming…
Every course—in presentation, taste, and texture—bore the marks of a master chef. Then it finally occurred to me: the reason no course seemed like a filler was because no course was a filler. To the master chef who had prepared this banquet especially for us, each course was main.
I confess that around course seven I grew distracted and began to think about past courses. Like that shark-fin soup: What was I thinking? Why didn’t I get more of that when I had the opportunity? Then my mind would wander drifting ahead to future courses: What ON EARTH am I going to do if chicken-feet are on the menu?
And while I sat there reminiscing about and regretting the past or daydreaming about and dreading the future, the course before me grew cold and I wondered, Why doesn’t this taste better?
Father God has regularly brought this experience back to my mind because I (we?) have a tendency to assume that “main” is out there, somewhere, but certainly not here. “Main” is after we graduate or volunteer for a few years or land a better job or start a family or become debt-free or get that promotion or the kids finish college or after we retire or after we…die?
And it is in moments like those when I am treating this gift called time as though it were some unfortunate, overly-long prelude, that I hear the gentle whisper of Father God: “Child, I am the God who wastes no one’s time. To me, this too is main.”
Main is not behind us. Main is not way out ahead of us. To our heavenly Father, this moment—call it transition, pain, disappointment, education, uncertainty—is as full of potential as any moment has ever been and as any moment every will be for knowing God personally and making Him known practically.
This course is main.
(Enjoy it while it is hot.)
Thank-you for this reminder; I so needed it. During times of waiting for circumstances to change I seesaw between feeling hopeful about what God is going to do next and fear that things will never change and that I will sink under the weight of disappointment. I sense Father telling me that He is enough, today and always.
Hope, fear, disappointment…all affected by “Father telling me that He is enough, today, and always.” So real and so powerful. Wendy, thank you for sharing.
Wow! All I can say is wow. As a person who is a dreamer,a visionary, I find myself thinking too much about what God could do tomorrow, letting today’s fare become cold! A good word for me!
Thank you, Linda, for reading and for commenting!
One of my favorite teachings from “Anonymous” –
I know beyond any doubt that the experiences I am having right now, in this season, are God’s extraordinary “main.” This truth is sustaining me as I navigate (not so delicately) the many steps in front of me. I don’t suppose (other than my cancer season) that there has ever been another season in my life that felt more weighty/urgent/necessary.
God steps with me, friend. Thank you for being a Deborah in my life.
And thank you, my friend, for modeling sensitivity to God in every season!
Oh Alicia – once again God has used you to bring wisdom, insight & healing to my heart. What a gift you are. With much love & thanks to you x
Much love right back to you, Linda! (Surely it’s time for you to come back to Rivendell…yes???)
Alicia, I have read Anonymous, and listened to it via audio CD. I enjoyed both immensely. As I read this post, I could hear your voice from the CD as you told the story about the buffet. That story spoke into my heart so deeply. I have been so guilty in the past of straining toward the future and not living in the now. I’m doing better….it only took me to age 50. 🙂
Thanks for the reminder to live in the now and let today be MAIN.
Leah, thank you so much for responding to the blog. I’m a year and a tish shy of 50….and I hear you on the length of the lesson: I’m guessing Jesus will be reminding me of the Chinese banquet for a few (dozen) more years to come 🙂
A very good reminder. I’m tired of living in the future, and want to learn to savor today.
Amen, Karla, Amen. For you and me both!