Waiting with bated breath, holding back the butterflies, feeling somewhat jittery, we often worry about whether the moment will go the way we want. We call it anticipation. Now, anticipation is not just the feeling of something good that is about to happen, because we know that the result of every anticipation does not turn out the way we think it should… Then. Life happens.
Anticipation is essentially “realization in advance” [Source]. Somehow you “Know in advance” what’s about to happen, but not yet experiencing the reality. Premonition? Maybe. But definitely not being surprised if it goes well, or not. Then. Life happens.
Perhaps it’s like Christmas morning, or your birthday celebration, wedding, promotion, graduation, or something you are looking forward to… Maybe you are even dreading it! Look! It’s approaching, even at breakneck speeds, but it’s not here yet. You are anxiously anticipating the moment, but you think you know what it will be like. You’ve realized it, but not yet experienced the moment.
Sometimes we look back and say, “Yep… that’s exactly what I thought it would be like!” Sometimes we don’t. Why? Life happens.
Late Last Night
Late last night this thought came to mind about how we anticipate the future. Sometimes we understand what will exactly happen, and other times it’s a mystery. We look forward to something, and we think we know the results or answers, even if it looks sketchy.
Sometimes we’re right. Sometimes not.
My bride has retired, and we were anticipating this time. We worked hard for it, planned for the day, but then life happened and it came a little earlier. Too many gravesides, epidemics, pandemics, marching, politics. Stresses that have been unplanned for because no one knew it would be like this.
Before you know it you realize that you are not totally prepared for what you anticipated. Why? Life happens! The moment is different. We never anticipated these past 10 months, and looking forward, I’m not sure we can anticipate the ending of the multiple crisis!
Someone wrote that before you hit your retirement stride you should adjust your present living to match what the future portends. Cut back on spending, traveling, and anything you think is unnecessary. Why? It’s when you hit these years that all your hard work and guesstimating meets reality. Will your dollars, health or time meet the world of your reality? I’m anticipating it will be fine… But then, Life.
Second Guessing
For me, it’s preparing hard for a teaching/preaching moment, and then not knowing how it will turn out. In the middle of it, or even at the ending. It’s those second guesses kicking you in the seat of the pants saying… I should have gone this way! Not said this! Said that!
You even anticipate certain participation and it just doesn’t fly. Why? Did they not get it? How wrong could I have been?
In fact, most of us spend agonizing amounts of time trying to determine why, and how to make it better the next time. We yearn for someone to enlighten us, but, at least for me, it’s simply me trying to figure it out by myself. I am the culprit of most failures. Somewhere, I missed the mark! That’s my fault. I didn’t flow with the moment, or adjust my expectations in light of reality.
And then? That’s when you realize you must simply do your best and let life happen!
God speaks through his prophet and promises this:
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
The focus? It’s His word, not mine. If I will only take “self” out of the picture and allow His Word to flow. It will accomplish what he pleases and will prosper, even down the road of time.
Anticipation has been defined as “realization in advance”. Maybe it’s the subconscious that truly knows what to expect, but the truth of the matter needs to be… even when I’m not expecting it, I need to be ready for it! Why? Life… Click To TweetAt Life’s Ending
I found the words of Billy Graham to be especially comforting. For him, at the ending of his life, it wasn’t about second guessing his past, but looking forward to the next step in life.
I look forward to death with great anticipation, to meeting God face to face.
~Billy Graham
Wait a moment. Anticipating, not only death, but the meeting of God face to face. It’s like the Apostle Paul telling Timothy, “I am now ready to be offered up…” (2 Timothy 4:6-8) My mission is completed, my work is done. In another place Paul told them to be absent from the body was to be with Christ, but it wasn’t time yet! (2 Corinthians 5) There is still much to be done!
Someday, death will happen to us all, but knowing with certainty that one breath here, and the next breath there, we should be asking ourselves some major questions.
Remember, and maybe this is what we need to focus on today. Life Happens. If it does in a major way, are we ready for that moment of meeting God?
If you are anticipating it, then that’s realization in advance.
If you are worried about it, then now is the time to get things right!
Remember, all of what we do today is preparing us for tomorrow. Who knows how tomorrow will unfold? I certainly don’t. Reality? I need to be ready NOW. Quickly, life happens. Exhale. Inhale your next breath. Are you ready? Do not let life happen without you have an assurance that you are ready for it!