Waiting for my real life to begin, again.

The lyrics to the song "Waiting for my real life to begin" by Colin Hay capture the feelings of hoping for more in life. A telephone call with the answer you've been dying to hear, that ship to come in that seems to have the only answer.But with each verse of longing in the song, the speaker is met with the refrain,
"Be still my love, open your heart,
let the light shine in.

It happens that we can start to think that the grass is greener over there, or that if this or that accomplishment when achieved that all of life's difficulty will be resolved. However,this often is untrue. Life is full of challenge, no matter the color of the grass.

Joan Chittester say's this about painful and difficult times in life in her book ' Breath of the Soul',

" The truth is that it is pain and need and vulnerability
that lead us directly to God. We become a prayer. We throw
ourselves on the heart of God. We look for the balm that
does not exist in this world as we know it. Then we trust
our lives to our only salvation - the love and mercy of God."

Learning to be content in all circumstances is something that all Christians are challenged with. Paul writes in Phillippians 4:11-13:
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to
have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in
any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all
this through him who gives me strength.

We can choose to look to the horizon for the moment that our proverbial ship to comes in...
Any minute now my ship is coming in
I'll keep checking the horizon
And I'll stand on the bow
And feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down, down, down on me.
(Lyrics by Colin Hay/ waiting for my life to begin)

Somehow, I imagine God speaks to all of us these words of
comfort -
"Be still, my love. Open up your heart, let the light shine in.
Don't you understand? I already have a plan."

It can be hard to wait on the timing and means of God, but who's
perspective on life and time is clearer - ours or God's?

Prayer:
God, help us to trust you in all times and circumstances. Help us
to live joyfully in the knowledge that we are truly, fully and wholly
beloved by you. Help us to remember that You created us and the
horizon we find ourselves watching each morning - and we can trust
You in each moment and circumstances each sunrise brings.