on waiting

Recently I had to go to Toronto downtown to apply for a Peruvian visa as I am going to a South American trip this summer. I originally thought this should be a fairly simple task that might take me a couple of hours. 

So I went on a Wednesday, and told my manager that I will make up the hours later in the evening. I had to:

• wake up earlier than usual to take the bus to the Charles St. Terminal
• take the greyhound to downtown Toronto, 
• take the subway to Young/Bloor. 

As I arrived to the consul...

• 10:30 am - I arrived,  there was only one person before me
• 11:00 am - attendant called me, so I submitted the paperwork for the visa application, and I was told to sit and wait. 
• 12:25 pm - attendant was saying that everything looks good, but that the "person in charge" wants to interview me (I was not sure if this is a required thing or whether it is a just formality or I was just randomly selected). So he asked me to come back the next day, but I told him that I am out of town and that it takes me at least 3 hours to commute from my place in Waterloo to the consul. But there was nothing he can do, so I had to come back on Friday (I didn't want to take back-to-back days off at work).

On Friday, the same routine happened, but a bit different...

• 10:30 am - here was at least 10 people before me
• 11:30 am - there was at least 20 people in the room and there was only one attendant available, so it was very very very slow.
• 12:30 pm - I had the interview with the "person in charge", and she did not find anything sketchy about me. Then I was asked to come on another day to pick up the visa, and I reacted hesitantly, so they told me that they will try their best and asked me to come back in 2 hours. 
• 1:00 pm - went to Hero's burger
• 1:30 pm - went to Starbucks, and burn most of the time reading a good Christian leadership book, while chatting on whatsapp with a friend who recently got married.
• 2:30 pm - I came back and waited 
• 3:45 pm - I finally got the Peruvian visa! 

So it took me almost triple the amount of time than I originally thought, and I was fairly frustrated with the process of waiting. I realized I am not as patient as I thought I would be.

So I came across this article about waiting (in the Christian context): http://theresurgence.com/2014/05/21/7-ways-to-follow-god-s-will-for-your-wait

I have spoken with many peers, and in general I find a similar struggle in my life stage where most of us are working, but we are not fully convinced that this is what we are gonna do for the rest of our lives. And then we start exploring about other possibilities (other work industries, other cities, or working on more ministry-related work) and it is really hard to find a clear answer. So we rely on prayer and waiting, and hoping that God will reveal to us an answer, eventually. 

It's hard because we don't know how long the wait is, and I easily can either grow impatient or not paying attention to my current present, because I focus too much on the future stuff. But in reality I should be paying more attention on the opportunities God is giving me in the present!

After reading the article, I was encouraged, because even if we don't see much "progress" in the waiting, there are undeniable facts about God's goodness and greatness:

• God is sovereign, and I have little control of my situation, so I should not have to worry
• God is faithful, so He will not abandon me
• God does not waste the experiences that He is making you go through, so it is a good time to focus on areas of my spiritual growth that is lacking, and find opportunities to serve
• God is unchangeable, and He has done so many good things to me in the past, and even now, so I should constantly be reminded of how He carried me through in the past

At this point, I still do not fully comprehend the periods of waiting, but I can rest assured that God is working, and I have to put my faith on Him.

"Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

     Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

    to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

    Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness,

    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

    and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord

    more than watchmen wait for the morning,

    more than watchmen wait for the morning."

                   - Psalm 130:1-6