Waiting Time Is Holy Time
Margaret Polly of Salem, OR, USA
I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am He, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world…. Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. -Doctrine and Covenants 18:1a, 2n
I found myself sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office while my mother-in-law went to her appointment. My chair was warm, soft, and inviting, but the TV was blaring, doors were opening and closing letting the winter chill in, people were wandering around, and every table was covered with magazines. Like competing headlines, everything seemed to shout, trying to capture the attention of us prisoners in the waiting room. It felt like chaos.
As I sat there I reflected that just a few hours earlier I had been rocking my infant grandson in the pre-dawn. Together in the quiet and dark of early morning we witnessed the rising of the sun-moments of peace as the gentle Spirit washed over us with the coming of light. Soon after daylight broke, the juncos arrived to their birdseed breakfast which we had scattered on the cold, dark patio.
Such a contrast in experiences. It had been easy to sense the Divine in the joyous rebirth of a new day shared with an appreciative person. But sitting in the noise with conflicting visual images in the midst of stressed people, God’s presence felt elusive.
I took a few deep breaths and stilled myself. The Spirit urged me to look, really look, around me. I began to pray with God for each person near me. Eventually I came to appreciate their uniqueness-varieties of body shape, hair color, voices, patterns of wrinkles, and mannerisms. Emptying myself of myself, I could see the revelation of God expressed in each one. Time passed quickly as I began to see them as beautiful individuals.
Once again I relearned a lesson I have experienced over and over: waiting time is holy time. God waits with us-for the dawn, for others-patiently, lovingly, eternally. We are never alone.
Prayer Phrase
I surrender into your love.
Spiritual Practice
Centering Prayer
Set a timer for 20 minutes. (If that feels like too much at first, choose a time that will be comfortable for you as a starting place, committing to expand that time in future prayer.) Allow the rhythm of your breath to draw you deeper and deeper into silence. As you breathe, claim one sacred word (Christ, peace, grace, trust, etc.) emerging in you as an anchor to return you to the intention of your prayer when your thoughts begin to wander. Gently release the thoughts and images that come, making space for presence to the One who is with you here and now. Release, return, “be vulnerable to divine grace” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:10b).
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
