Reflections

We have been putting regular reflections inspired by our time here in the monthly newsletter produced by the First Baptist church (FBC) of Springfield, Ohio. FBC is Eric’s home church and also the church that supported his parents during their time of service in DR Congo. The following is an entry that was written last December. If you would like to see them on a regular basis, please let us know by posting a comment…

The Art of Waiting

I am writing this edition of Smith’s Corner from the coast of Kenya at a CRWRC spiritual retreat. Today is a relaxing, if warm and sultry, December day on the edge of the Indian Ocean. The trip here, however, was not so relaxing. In fact, it gave us yet another opportunity to practice the art of waiting. Waiting is a normal part life here in Africa. Anything from heavy rains, to broken down river ferries, to family illnesses, can cause unanticipated delays.

We took the 5:10 a.m. Kenya Airways flight from Entebbe, Uganda, with the hope that, even with a lay-over in Nairobi, we would arrive at the coast with half a day left to enjoy the beach. However, we did not board the plane in Nairobi until after noon due to mechanical issues. And, after a 15-minute wait on the plane, we were escorted off again for further work to be done. To make a long story short, we only just arrived to our destination to catch a glimpse of the sunset before darkness blanketed the ocean view.

The long day was made all the longer because we were pining after a vision stuck in our heads of an idyllic retreat spot. We, as believers, also have a vision that we should be longing after. This vision is for a world where, “the sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more. Never again will there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man that does not live out his years. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat their fruit. They will long enjoy the works of their hands. They will call and [God] will answer.” (Isaiah 65). Is this not what we pray for when we repeat the Lord’s prayer, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”? Our longing for this kingdom should push us to play our part and make the vision a reality in our own lives and the life of our communities. But, we must not lose heart if things don’t happen as quickly as we like.

After all, until the mechanics plied their trade, we were stranded in Nairobi. In the same way, only Christ has the ultimate power to make the kingdom vision a complete reality. And, although we will have opportunity to catch glimpses of the kingdom breaking through, much as Martha and I caught a glimpse of the sun setting on the beach, the kingdom will not be fully manifested until Christ’s return. This is where the art of waiting comes in.

For those of us that might be on the verge of giving up hope; of giving up on the kingdom vision; of giving up on Christ’s return; of giving up on the possibility of healed and whole bodies, economic stability, healthy relationships, connectedness to God, and a just society, Peter reminds us to, “not forget this one thing dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. In keeping with his promise, we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3).