Have you ever felt like you were in waiting mode? Waiting on this. Waiting on that. The perfect day or project’s end.
We have a lot of BIG things we are waiting on here in my house — first gbaby, daughter’s wedding and move to Florida Keys, along with a women’s event and new Bible study I’m writing.
Waiting is hard work! Am I the only impatient one here? Urgh! I like things done now. I love seeing results — not waiting! And the wait that is hardest for me is waiting on a dream to be fulfilled.
A few years ago, I began reaching out to, teaching and working with women on the inner city. It was a dream that came with much question and doubt on my part.
I continually wondered what I had to offer or how I could be relatable in such a different culture and environment. Truthfully the thoughts plagued me, until I stepped out and taught the first study. I tried not to let the differences slow me down and trip me up. And days it was just plain hard! Almost suffocating.
While I knew Jesus loved each one of us, how could we love and relate to each other in our different colors, socio-economic environment, and cultural differences?
The journey has been magnificent.
It’s been almost five years and this journey has stretched me beyond what I ever thought capable. It’s been a dance of me learning about others and falling in love with them as we journeyed together. I’ve learned a great reality — To reach a broken world we have to quit our “Christianese” speak and step out of our perfect churches.
And believe me this hasn’t been a journey void of heartache. A heartache that comes from life’s dance. Maybe you’re in the dance or at least familiar with it?
The dance.
You fall in love with others. You see so much potential in them. You walk with them through the valley’s. You think they are strong and ready to cha-cha on their own. Only to find out that their old ways and habits have come back to consume their life. You pray like crazy. You counsel. You encourage and see progress being made. You cry. You curl up in a ball and pray your guts out. And then, one day when you are least expecting it, you see that their two-steps forward and three-steps back dance has turned in to a beautiful waltz somehow.
Life’s dance — it will wear your heart out as you see so much potential in those dancing. It will dip and twirl you around as you try to figure out how to help. The struggle to stay up-right is hard. But despite it all, you keep on leading hoping other’s will follow. You dance your own dance and before you know it . . .
A dream happens.
Dreams happen when you step out and pursue them. You have to stretch through the false thoughts and doubts. You have to keep going when your tired and want to give up. You fight for the dream because of what you believe in.
I believe in other people. I believe Jesus still does miracles in changing others lives. And most importantly, I believe Jesus changes me in the process.
So while I wait for our first gbaby to arrive and the big day for my daughter, I’ll keep pursuing the dreams that press in on me. And I’ll learn to wait patiently for both.
How about you? Are you leading, following, struggling, or waiting? I’d love to know about your dance.
Remember, just keep on dancing and before you know it your dream will be fulfilled.