Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
If you’ve ever been backstage during a theatrical performance you have some idea how complicated a play can be. Lines, costumes, lighting and sound must somehow be orchestrated. Timing is everything. Now, just imagine that what you’re seeing from backstage is improvisational theatre, and that most of the actors and stagehands don’t even know or care that they’re in a play. And imagine that the ones who do know and care only listen to the director once in a while. In this situation it’s going to take some time to get the story told. And it’s going to take some careful listening on the part of some key performers, and an awful lot of patience.
The Jews had been waiting for Messiah for centuries, but they couldn’t have imagined that Herod and even the Roman Empire have a part to play. Zechariah and Elizabeth have been waiting for a baby, but they have no idea that Mary must first be prepared. And Mary’s about to become a key performer with no idea what a difficult and painful role she’s taking on.
Have you ever noticed how much of our lives we spend waiting for something; a prayer to be answered, graduation, a better job, a husband, wife, child? But, if we are part of God’s unfolding drama, we’re also waiting for a thousand things to happen, and a thousand people to do things of which we know nothing. Just like Mary, whether we know it or not, we’re waiting for the director to give us some direction. Just waiting on the Lord.
“But when will we get to serve?”, we ask impatiently.
The answer is simple. We are serving already. As John Milton said, “They also serve who only stand and wait”.
3 comments:
Hi Dan. Glad to here that you and Suzanne are back in God's country, Tory Blue, province of governmental surpluses, province of full employment (not just the service industry), Canada's engine of the economy, need I say more? Unfortunately you're in the "Chuck" or more affectionately called "Deadmonton". But, I digress.
In regards to this blog, I too am waiting- (as well as other believers)for the Lord to direct my path. Sometimes (mostly) we are to be a witness where we are. Maybe ,although not audibly,the Lord wants us to dig into His word thus we learn how to be patient in this instant society we live in.I'm glad that I wasn't told earlier that I would have MS and be in a wheelchair by age 47. I miss doing and being places a lot. More importantly not being physically able to be a support to my family.As you know His ways are not our ways. God is the alpha and the omega. We can't possibly address God as to how great and awesome He is.But we try in our sinful state. We continue (because we want to)to praise Him for things in life that we really don't want to praise Him for.In his word we are in everything to give thanks. Thats a tall order.
Thanks for your Christmas letter and I'll talk to you again.
By the way, your not on the "left" end of the spectrum in Edmonton are you now? Me thinks not.
Your brother in Christ,
John Karp*****
By the way Dan, I'm 49.That means I'm older and wiser doesn't it? Maybe not so much on the wiser part. But I'm definately older judging by the fact that I have more face (and less hair).
Great work.
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