Covid and waiting became synonymous with each other. Three months ago, I could go anywhere, into any shop, join friends at a pub, join a church service by choice. But this has changed. I work in a health service which means it is viewed as a key service. Now I am limited between work and home. Everyday. Otherwise …. waiting. Many people across the world, pending policies of their governments, have been caught up in this. Waiting with limited movement. Waiting for the virus to be identified and be controlled. If you are one of the unlucky ones who got this virus, enforced waiting for two/three weeks. And waiting can be frustrating if it is not filled with something. Mums and dads can tell you about this.
When the disciples left the Mountain of Olives after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, they have received this instruction: Wait in Jerusalem! In their instance, if we understand the 40 days they spent with Jesus after his resurrection correctly, behind closed doors. Fearsome. Huddled together. They had the promises Jesus gave them. They saw the miracles. But to be in the same city as the Jewish temple, the headquarters of the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, and the Roman powers were likely still threatening.
How do you fill time while “waiting”?
- One can wait with a type of “emptiness”. Just sitting around and becoming frustrated. Alternatively, depressed. Victor Frankl wrote about experiencing an “existential vacuum” and what the risks here are. Things become meaningless while time seems to tick away slower. This is dangerous. It can contribute to becoming mentally unwell. It can also become frustrating. One can observe some of this happening where increasing amounts of people complain about the restrictions of COVID, for example. They are tired of waiting.
- On can fill your time with cleaning out the whole house, bagging a lot of stuff that needs to go to “Sallies” after COVID. But this activity only lasts some time.
- One can engage in hobbies – but that can only last for some time.
It is in this instance where Psalm 130 comes to our aid. Most likely this was known to the disciples as well. Verse four and five says: 5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word, I put my hope. 6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. [1]
- One can experience waiting as having a purpose! This is what the ten days of Pentecost want to tell us. Our waiting (nor the disciple’s waiting) does not contribute to an existential vacuum. The waiting which the disciples had to go through had purpose. It had a goal. They knew Jesus has told them that when He goes, God’s Spirit will come. They knew that they could not dare to go without being fully equipped. When one understands the goal of waiting, it becomes easier and one accepts it. There was most likely anticipation between the disciples and the small group of believers around them.
- They waited as a group. Waiting by oneself is painful. The experience of isolation and silence becomes incredibly challenging. But as the first “Christian group” (yet to become “church”) they found some consolation in being together. Experiencing the power of being “one” in their expectancy. Inspiring each other. Probably saying to each other: “Remember, we were told to wait!”. Day by day …. ten days long.
- Most likely they continued with the meal of communion because Jesus told them to do it. I would have loved to see this. Them huddling together, “breaking the bread” (which in the New Testament was a term used for communion), and sharing with each other. Encouraging each other. Taking hope and consolation from their simple meal, but “breaking the bread” while eating together.
- Most likely reflecting on Jesus’ word and praying. At the same time still practicing their Jewish rites. The schism with Judaism was yet to happen.
But in them, we found people who gave meaning to “waiting”. Like Psalm 130 said. Everything in them waited. They were told to do so. Their wait had a specific content: Jesus! He told them to. He promised them support. This kept them together. There was an expectancy that Jesus as Lord will reveal His power to them. They believed it. With heart and soul and mind. This kept them together. This expectancy gradually built up, becoming bigger and bigger within themselves. Yes, they had a purpose!
Translate this to our situation and our ways of “waiting”. Putting COVID aside and thinking of our expectancy of Jesus. Our way of approaching the future. Boldly, with happiness despite materialistic shortcomings? Inspiring each other with positivity? Or groaning about the here and now and longing back to the lands of milk and honey of foregone years?
Let us become the watchmen waiting for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Ps 130:5–6). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.