Waiting is Tough

by Ryan Krzykowski

A couple days ago I heard someone use the phrase “letting time do what time does”.  That really got me thinking.  What does time do, other than simply make me wait for the information or outcome I’m anticipating?  As a coach, I prefer action, a list of to-dos or next steps.  I want to make things happen rather than wait around for things to happen.  And yet, those words about time have been bouncing around in my mind as I sense there’s something important there to try and understand. 

But the reality is that waiting, not knowing, can be difficult.  Tom Petty seemed to know this — the waiting is the hardest part.  I want to know where my son will attend college and if he’ll have a chance to play his sport of choice at that level.  I want to know what will happen with my relatives and friends who are battling cancer.  I’d like to hurry past the work that my marriage requires and just get to the part where healing has happened.  I’d like to know what our team’s record will be at the end of the season, and how far we’ll advance in the playoffs.  Sure, there’s something to be said for the uncertainty, it does make the journey more interesting and exciting sometimes.  But for me, I’d happily give up the intrigue and excitement in a second if there was some way to have the answer sooner.  I just want to know.

So, considering the idea of “letting time do what time does”, while not exactly appealing, would appear to be an opportunity to do more than gut it out and wait simply because I have to.  Letting time do what time does is probably another way of saying, “OK God, what’s here for me to learn?  How can we use this time to develop faith, hope and love?  How can I mature and grow through this?  How can I help others do the same?  How can anxiety be replaced with peace and trust?  How can I embrace and enjoy a journey rather than just want to jump to the end of the story?”

Let’s Coach With Purpose…