I am in the middle of quite a few things in this season of my life…home improvement projects, new projects at work, ministry initiatives, personal goals, and mid-life if I am counting the years…

The middle is often a place of waiting. You have certain expectations – a desired outcome, a preferred timeline, and excitement of seeing whatever you’re waiting for come to pass. Then there’s the anxiety about what’s next, deviations from your plans and timeline, and frustration that comes from feeling stuck when things don’t seem to be going the way you would like them to.

This weekend I received a practical lesson on what to do while you wait. I was in between commitments with a few hours to spare. Part of me wanted to take advantage of the down time – just count down the minutes until the next thing and think about the responsibilities piling up instead of doing what is in front of me while I wait.

As I took inventory of my to do list and assessed my current situation, I stared at a pile (well piles) of clothes I was in the process of transitioning to storage for the next season mixed with some freshly laundered clothes that accumulated throughout the week as I tended to more pressing matters. I started working on each pile until each piece of clothing made it to it’s appropriate location. Working on the thing right in front of me…working while I was waiting.

Then I fixed my attention on a pile of unopened boxes containing some items requiring assembly. Items that were part of a home improvement project that was still in progress. I ignored the boxes because I was waiting for the room to be finished and in my frustration I put them off to the side. I opened the few boxes and started assembling. I started working on the next thing in front of me…working while I was waiting.

Before I knew it, it was almost time to get ready for my appointment. I had lost track of time. I was focused on accomplishing the tasks in front on me. Though the things I was working may not have been directly tied to the actual thing(s) I was waiting for, I felt lighter, less overwhelmed more organized, accomplished and encouraged about the very things I was waiting for. Not only that, I went into my next commitment feeling undistracted, prepared and ready to focus on that particular task.

I am learning how to manage the waiting room (sometimes not as well as I would like) and not neglect the sometimes seemingly small or insignificant things we tend to put off in our arrogance and impatience believing we will take care of them at a later time or better yet when the thing we are waiting for becomes a reality.

Waiting doesn’t mean do nothing or just sit around counting the hours that pass until you arrive at your final destination. There are things waiting for you in the wait. People waiting for you in the wait. Places you need to be in the wait. Things to learn in the wait. Commit yourself to the work in the wait. Do the next thing. Wait well.

Don’t just sit there….there is something for you to do in the wait!

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NIV