faith

The Wait: Wrestling with the Essence of Time

/ Sharon / Leave a comment

I can appear calm, yet I know that I can be impatient.   I’m the one that scouts out what looks like the shorter line in the store, only to be dismayed when another line moves faster.  That kind of wait can be a minor annoyance, but some waits are longer than others. Some waits erode hope.  Some waits shed tears.   

I haven’t worn a watch in a while.  Yet my mindset is often attached to a clock ticking in my head. Chronological time is a tool that helps us to function and organize our days.  Yet our eternal God reserves the right to transcend it. If you have experienced some frustration with waiting, I wonder what comes to mind for you when you watch this video. Sit with it for a few minutes.

If you would like to see more about how the above video relates to the Advent season, watch this Invitation to Hope.

Your Call: Reflect on two Greek words for time, which are 1) chronos, which speaks to chronological time, and 2)  kairos, which speaks to an appointed time or a due season.  How can this understanding prepare you for your wrestling match with time?

Press On: Navigating the Buttons of Life

/ Sharon / Leave a comment


Right now, which of these buttons speaks to you the most? Are you inclined to press previous, play, pause, stop, or next?

I tend to hover over the “next” button.  The temptation there for me is ruminating about what’s next to the point where I forget to be present, which can lead to escapism or fear.  I am realizing that I can reframe that “next” button as I trust God with my future. I can press “previous” and express gratitude for how God has been faithful in the past. I can press “pause” and take a deep breath, reminding myself that the Holy Spirit in within and around me. I can cultivate a sense of expectancy while not imposing my expectations or obsessing over exact outcomes. I can sing along with the hymnwriter who proclaims, “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

Your Call: Reflect on the button that stands out the most and how that speaks to this season of your life.  (Sisters in Christ, I invite you to subscribe to my Flow to Fruitful newsletter and receive a free mini-workbook that goes a little deeper with this. For more information, click: bit.ly/flowtofruitful).