Impatiently Waiting

When you’re hauling a camper and traveling with kids the days of “beating” the GPS’s projected estimated time of arrival are long gone. 

At this point in time, I've come to grasp the fact that it is going to take us at least 20% longer than projected to arrive at any destination.

However, this reality has in no way diminished my pride in leaving and arriving “on schedule”. 

On the day we were set to pull out from the beach. I knew the projected 10 hour trip was going to take us at least 12 hours so I had planned to leave no later than 9:00 AM. 

I communicated this plan with the family the day before, I gave them my reason, and thought we were all on the same page.

Well, 9:00 AM came and went and the kids were off on their bikes. My wife was taking her time easing into the morning.

I was annoyed to say the least. 

9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 10:45… we’re still not ready to go. Ok now, I’m pissed! 

At that point, looking for anything to take my mind off the fact that we were “running late”, I realized I had skipped my morning scripture reading in my haste to get everything ready “on time”.

So, I opened my bible where I had left off reading 1 Peter Chapter 3. A few seconds in, I got to verse 20 [MSG] and read “God Waited Patiently”. 

Boom! The message I didn’t know I needed was delivered so timely. 

I immediately thanked God for his timely reminder and could feel myself settling back to a more pro-social state.

Here I was becoming increasingly frustrated at my family, who were merely savoring their final moments at the beach, due to an arbitrary departure time I set for us.

I wonder how often my self-induced impatience has been the root cause of my frustrations with others? 

How often do you find yourself frustrated, impatiently waiting for unmet expectations to be realized?

Frustration and anxiety emerge when what we feel has to happen doesn’t happen.

Whenever you find yourself frustrated, ask yourself, “what are the realities of this situation, and what are my perceptions? Clearly separate the two before you start to consider solutions.

Stay The Course,