Hidden gifts

A Time to Wait…

A few days ago, I found myself at the end of a rather long, slow moving line. Although I had anticipated this situation upon embarking to renew my driver’s license, I thought that perhaps the wait would be less since it was mid-morning and mid-week, but I was wrong. After wondering if I had made a mistake not showing up first thing in the morning and then whether I should go elsewhere or try another day, I decided not only to wait, but also to try to make the best of it. Turns out I was in good company.

While each of us in line could account for having paperwork in order (or at least to the best of one’s understanding) and thought we were ready to go, none of us could have accounted for the temporary halt in the functioning of the computer system or the various other issues that came into play, causing a delay for all who were trying to complete a transaction at that time on that day. It did not matter which side of the counter any of us were on, we were all waiting. We were also at a prolonged standstill for some time, except of course for those who turned around immediately upon seeing the length of the line or who left after little to no forward progress. In addition, we were all complete strangers, minus one employee and the person trying to return to her with additional paperwork left at home a day earlier. So, for the most part, we were all strangers, but we were together, and when one of us moved up a spot in the line, all of us moved up.

As the minutes… many minutes passed, for those of us who waited, eventually there was an end in sight, and along the way rewards of one kind or another. There were many conversations that sprung up, differing opinions aired regarding the need for such seemingly arduous procedures to prove one’s identity, laughs shared, and silent prayers during those silent moments when the stretch of time waiting seemed to lean toward being less bearable for all of us. However, one by one we made it through, progressing from chair to chair until finally, in due time, reaching the counter and processing the long-awaited transaction.

It is interesting how sometimes, maybe more often than we know, victory is in the waiting.

SunArising

Life Interrupted…

Earlier in the week, I was running late on the way to an appointment. I was feeling pressured as well as surprised by the amount of traffic on the local roads. As I drove, I could not help but think that if only there had been one less interruption earlier in the day I would not be in this position. However, the fact of the matter was that there had not been, and I was on the brink of being late… something I prefer not to be. As I arrived at my destination and put the car into park, I looked up to see a beautiful tree across the street; somewhat interrupted by power lines and signs, but still a pleasant sight.

Trying as it may be, isn’t that the way life is at times? Interrupted or laden with interference. It is like tuning the radio to a high definition station that is playing a favorite song only to have the signal repeatedly cut out as you drive along. Or possibly stronger, like losing a Wi-Fi connection in the middle of transferring a file. Yet, maybe even more impactful, like losing power altogether.

We all experience unplanned and unexpected interruptions or times when we may set out on one path only to end up on another. Times when we simply cannot get “from here to there” in the allotted time, or at all. So what is the point of all this interference? Perhaps it is to resist letting the perspective that whatever I may have been held back from was more important, or to always seek to remember the sacredness of moments spent with, or on behalf of, another. Still, more than anything, perhaps the point is to recognize it for what it is—more often than not, a gift—to see the beauty in each moment, even those that are interrupted or unexpected, and to ask for the grace to receive it with joy.

LifeInterrupted