Did you ever see that movie, "The Phantom Toll Booth"? This normal kid finds an extraordinary box in his room and it turns into a toll booth to another demension. He drives in and turns into a cartoon (every kid's dream) and finds himself in this fantastical world with strange characters and animals. Somewhat early on, as he is driving along, minding his own business, he takes a wrong turn and finds himself in a place called the "Doldrums." It is a place full of do-nothings and have-nots, a horrible waiting place where time seems to slow to a standstill and you have not a care in the world...which can become dangerous. It reminds me of a part in one of Dr. Seuss's books:
"The Waiting Place……for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come,
or a plane to go
or the mail to come,
or the rain to go
or the phone to ring,
or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil,
or a Better Break
or a string of pearls,
or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls,
or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting."
It's a horrid place to be in, but we all have to be there at one time or another. People wait for their lives to get spiced up, to get knocked off their feet, for a change, when in reality, what they were waiting for was already in their lives to begin with. That's another mistake people make: looking into the future rather than acknowledging that what they truly want and need is in the here and now.
Our culture has become so dependent on time and the go, go, go mentality that it's easy to get caught up in the moment, to look too far ahead. Heck, I'm guilty of it a lot of the time. I fail to look around me and really be thankful for what I have been given, and I begin to want a change because my life is boring and stagnant. No one has any right to say that life is boring and stagnant (except if you're sitting in Algebra class, but that's another story). There is just no excuse. Life is vibrant, colorful, and energizing. Don't believe me? Watch a sunrise, or dive into a waterfall, or play with a butterfly, or smell a flower, or breathe. Just slow down for God's sake!
God has so gifted us with so many gifts of life that we are always looking to him for change, and sometimes he's telling us to smell the roses...literally! Maybe the waiting place isn't that bad after all. I mean, it seems like it can get boring, but in reality, we need to take one look around and thank God for the short, fleeting chance he has given us to admire His creation before we have to go back to a routine of soccer practices, dance recitals, and dentists' appointments...
2 comments:
so my friend has having a completely horrible day. she had moved to indianapolis to rekindle a relationship with her father which during the process her parents had split. in turn she ended up going to a place she was unfamiliar with, with no one to go to, and to work at a job that she hated with a pay cut. So she was calling me as she always does and she was screaming on the phone about how horrible her life is all while waiting for her room mates to pick her up(who were an hour late when they live ten minutes away). anyways while she was talking i was reading this and having nothing to say to her situation this post couldn't have been anymore perfect. So i just wanted to let you know that this post just stopped someone on the other side of the country to stop their bickering, to think logically (find another job before quiting her current one, no matter how many times people have told her), and to simply enjoy God's creation even if it is for that fleeting moment
Okay, David, does it matter that I'm your mother? Can moms comment here? I'll try not to say anything too embarassing or get too mushy on you. I don't even have the words to say how I feel about you anyway. I just know God really showed me grace in allowing me to be your mother ('cause I don't deserve the honor). You amaze me. You teach me. You inspire me. (Should I go on?! :)) I thank God for you, dear son!
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