Thursday, December 7, 2023
“Is the Wait Better than the Reality?”
Just 18…the thoughts cause my mind to wonder! Each day is one step closer. Soon enough, we’ll be able to wish each other a Merry Christmas on Christmas Day! Of course, that’s assuming that we’re still in the Christmas Spirit and we still want to give folks a few Seasons Greetings. At times, it can feel as though the wait is better than the reality.
Many years ago, I remember a few instances of feeling deflated when reality surfaced. As a child, I remember waiting to become a teenager, only to discover acne was a real problem. I remember waiting to become 16 years old so I could drive, only to realize that I never considered the cost of insurance or gasoline (or having to carpool my little sister). I also remember waiting for 18 so I could be an adult and vote, only to realize that I would soon be doing my own laundry and cooking my own meals. Then, I remember waiting to be old enough to legally consume alcohol in a restaurant, only to realize that I couldn’t afford to buy it!
Growing old is difficult! Maybe that’s why I’m so excited about an approaching Holiday. It makes me feel young again. I have dreams of what it was like to be a teenager again, and I’m assuming lots of people have similar feelings.
Wouldn’t it be great to be young again, especially if we could maintain our current knowledge of the world? However, as I continue to think about it, being young again may not be all it’s cracked up to be. What would it be like trying to learn geometry again? Could I be happy wearing bell-bottom jeans with patches on the knee? Would I be able to survive high school a second time? Do I have any interest in repeating college?
“No way” is my answer on all that stuff! I’ll take my uninteresting life, slightly overweight composition, and occasional stiff back and achy knees. I can’t imagine trying to learn academia on a smartboard, using online textbooks, or being forced to listen to what kids today call, “Music”.
I’ll choose my old self right now any day of the week, as long as I’m still counting down to God’s best blessings this Holiday Season. Sure, I may not know everything that will occur this Holiday, but I know this: The LORD has given me lots of reasons to have “Hope.” There’s a reason to be excited about this Christmas in a brand-new way, even if I can’t explain it. The wait is great, but this year, reality will be the best yet!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13, ESV)