Hi Folks:
I spent my week catching up
from being in
This week we look at
Simeon. For the full account, check out Luke 2:25-35.
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Like many people, I don’t like waiting. Over the years I have become better at
it, but its not something I enjoy. About 5 years ago
we took the boys to
At the time, Mark was into
Thomas the Tank Engine, which is a tv
show featuring a model steam engine called Thomas. Each year the Strasburg
Railway hosts "A Day Out With Thomas," where
organizers bring in a real steam engine made up like Thomas. It attracts tens
of thousands of Thomas fans.
We woke up early on the
appointed day. Jan wanted to go right over and get in line. I wasn’t keen because I thought we would have to stand in
line either way. Since there wasn’t anything else to
do, however, we went early anyway.
As it turned out, Jan was
right (she often is). We waited only a short time in line. Had we arrived even
30 minutes later, we would have waited an hour or more to enter.
There are different kinds
of waiting. There is the kind of arms-folded, foot stamping, deep sighing, impatient kind of waiting we see at the department of motor
vehicles or long restaurant lines. We certainly saw lots of this kind in
Strasburg that day.
And then there is the sceptical, "I’ll believe it
when I see it kind" kind of waiting. In this kind of waiting we don’t really believe something
will happen. Its like waiting for someone who always
breaks promises, or like listening to a politician on the campaign trail.
Finally, there is the kind
of waiting in which we are excited. We long for and anticipate the fulfilment of what we hope. This is like Christmas for our
children. They know it is coming and can hardly contain themselves.
Two factors make waiting
easier. First, there is certainty. When we know the promise will happen, we don’t have as much trouble being patient. I went lobster
fishing last week for three days. Wednesday was a rough, miserable day and I
"fed the fish" five times. (Many of you already know that this is not
unusual for me) What got me through was the knowledge that after lunch we would
work closer to shore where the water was smoother. And then, after that, I
would step onto the wharf again. Certainty gives reason for hope.
An anticipated reward also
makes waiting easier. Its harder to wait for a root
canal than it is for a slice of "Mile High Pie" at Sophia’s Café. As parents, we count on this when we bribe
our children: "If you behave, I’ll get you a
treat." When there is something good at the end, waiting becomes
anticipation and excitement.
Simeon had certainty and
reward in view as he waited for the Messiah. You will remember that he was one
of the prophets in
Simeon is another example
of what faith means. Faith means we wait for God’s
promises, but not impatiently or sceptically. I meet
Christians all the time, even pastors, who are cynical and hardened. Deep down
they really do not believe there are better days ahead.
Faith is a perspective on
life. To have faith means we choose to believe that the best days are not
behind us. Rather, we trust that the future will be brighter, because God never
makes an empty promise.
I hope this helps. Be On
Fire
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ON FIRE is a weekly
letter of encouragement by
*All scripture references
from the New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978 by the International
Bible Society.