Coolmira

There has been a word lingering around in my heart for the past few days. This word has become my friend. This word has been making me think and to ponder. The word is 'waiting.' I wondered why the word 'waiting' suddenly made a visit in my heart. I think the reason is because of Christmas. The innocence of my childhood that longed for Christmas came back alive. For no apparent reason, I long for this coming Christmas more than any other times. I keep feeling like something wonderful and meaningful might happen.

Christmas is the day of Jesus' birth. On this day, the human history has experienced an extraordinary life. It was a life like none that they've ever experienced. It was a new life. It was God's life. Jesus is God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born in a human body. He was born as utterly God and utterly human. God was born! That's why it's called the "Holy Birth" (Korean way of calling Christmas). Jesus was born as a new life and came to give us that life. Everything one gives to someone something of their own. No one can give what they do not have. Jesus possessed the very life of God. That's how gives us the life of God. Jesus came to give us God's life and to offer His salvation.

God waited to send Jesus on earth. He waited for a long time. He waited until the due time. God is the God of waiting. After Jesus' ascent, God further waited to send the Holy Spirit on our way. Jesus told the disciples to not leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father has promised. The disciples believed and waited - they waited for the promised Holy Spirit. They waited and longed. They prayed as they longed. God finally sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to the disciples who were waiting in prayer.

Life reflects waiting. Waiting reflects yearning. To yearn is to long for someone, or for some thing. To wait is to have expectation. An expectant heart makes us flutter. To expect is to have hope. There is nothing that holds us stronger than hope. Hope is the power that has defeated despair. For that reason, hope is powerful. Like a wild flower penetrating through the asphalt, hope too penetrates through despair. Hope is like a roly-poly. A roly-poly stands right up just when it seemed to have fallen. A roly-poly stands up again no matter how many times it has fallen. A life living with hope is the life like that of a roly-poly.

One of the wisdom God longs to teach us the wisdom of waiting. To wait is to persevere. Professor Young-Bok Shin once said, "Waiting makes us persevere, look farther, and gives us the vision to see light even in the midst of darkness." You will be used by God when you wait. Waiting yields the opportunity for a use. When you wait, you will finally see. When you wait, you will be given a bright vision. Waiting yields a pathway. Waiting makes doors open.

Waiting is trusting - trusting God's promises. We can wait when we trust God's promises. Waiting is mystery. Nothing seems to happen while waiting but miraculous things happen in the process. A pregnant mother waits 10 months for her baby. It is the waiting that makes the child grow.

Waiting is not a time wasted. Waiting allows God to work in our life. While we wait, God works on our behalf. God prepares the way. The New Life Vision Church was born through waiting. The New Life Vision Church will grow through the process of waiting. Let us wait for Christmas with an expectant heart. Let us wait as we expect miraculous things God will do through us. Let us wait in prayer. Our good God will surely do good things in all of our members' families.

Rev. Joshua Choon-min Kang

from the Pastorate