Issue 41: “Impatience”
Our mission at the Matthew 25 Initiative is to equip and sustain Anglicans serving alongside the vulnerable. The work of justice and mercy is often wondrous and also difficult. Holding beauty, naming pain, and contending for hope is what we do at M25i.
The "For the Soul" series gifts us with poetry that offers Spirit-soaked imagination that leads to prayer as we turn our gaze and hearts to God.
Before you begin...
Eastertide is a confusing season. Jesus leaves after 40 days. But we are supposed to be riotously celebrating his presence and resurrection... But he ascends into heaven... But he’s not dead... But it’s not yet Pentecost... And a new waiting has begun. It’s kind of like Advent waiting. It’s kind of like Holy Saturday waiting. But it’s not quite the same. Yet, we are solidly still… WAITING!
The new heaven and the new earth is not here. We are in the “not yet” zone of healing, restoration, and shalom. But, we are prophetically living out many “alreadys.” At M25i, we believe that in the waiting we get to live out the kingdom of God now. We know it when we glimpse it, taste it, feel it, hear it. But we are definitely still waiting. And we are a little impatient.
How can we wait?
We say “Jesus! Come back! And may you find us faithfully going about your work of love and living that mends, shining your light in the darkness!”
Impatience
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
How can I wait until you come to me?
The once fleet mornings linger by the way;
Their sunny smiles touched with malicious glee
At my unrest, they seem to pause, and play
Like truant children, while I sigh and say,
How can I wait?
How can I wait? Of old, the rapid hours
Refused to pause or loiter with me long;
But now they idly fill their hands with flowers,
And make no haste, but slowly stroll among
The summer blooms, not heeding my one song,
How can I wait?
How can I wait? The nights alone are kind;
They reach forth to a future day, and bring
Sweet dreams of you to people all my mind;
And time speeds by on light and airy wing.
I feast upon your face, I no more sing,
How can I wait?
How can I wait? The morning breaks the spell
A pitying night has flung upon my soul.
You are not near me, and I know full well
My heart has need of patience and control;
Before we meet, hours, days, and weeks must roll.
How can I wait?
How can I wait? Oh, love, how can I wait
Until the sunlight of your eyes shall shine
Upon my world that seems so desolate?
Until your hand-clasp warms my blood like wine;
Until you come again, oh, love of mine,
How can I wait?
Bring your hope and expectation, your longing to be faithful, and even your impatience into prayer as a love offering to God. Bring into your prayer, also, those for whom the waiting feels untenable.
As you read this email, who comes to mind? Forward this email to your friends who care about the vulnerable. We hope that they would be encouraged to see other Anglicans who care too. We are not alone in this work.
Would you speak a "yes" to this work with a gift? It would really bless us.
