Hurry up and Wait

I once had a job in which I was told required a lot of "Hurry up and wait.” I was never quite sure I knew what that phrase meant but I still used it as an answer when someone would ask me what I did, “A lot of hurry up and wait.” As I was thinking about that phrase the other day I am still not sure I understand what it means but it did occur to me that it could be a perfect phrase for discerning Religious Life. To often in this day and age we’re told to “just do it” without taking the time to reflect and prepare. Instead we need to be counter-cultural and actually take time to pray and ask God where are we being called, or how we are we to live out our call. Now is the time to discern, to spend some quiet time in prayer, to ask and discern if God is calling you to be a priest or a brother. But often times when we get to that spot of asking the question we have to wait for the answer. “Hurry up and wait” is what Elijah had to do. He journeyed 40 days to Mount Horeb, and then had to wait until the wind, the earthquake and fire passed before he heard the voice of God whispering to him, “Why are you here?”

Hurry up to find a quiet spot and wait to listen. Take the time to slow down and be present with God. It is then that we can hear God's voice in the whispering... “Why are you here? Are you called to be a missioner?