Waiting For The When

Throughout the month of November, we’ve been encouraged to contemplate the abundance in daily life and to practice gratitude. Author Nancy Wood has a wonderful perspective regarding thankfulness. Wood states, “I must be thankful for what IS and stop thinking about what IS NOT.” 

Joyce Rupp, author and speaker, wrote about “waiting for the when” in her book, Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season:

“In one of his journal notations, Thomas Merton writes that we are always thinking that our life will truly be happy “when.” We are not satisfied with what is currently our situation because we have it in our mind that our life won’t be happy until something else occurs like: 

• when I have one more thing I want, 
• when I get rid of that personality flaw of mine, 
• when I can finally have life as I have always dreamed it to be, 
• when I am truly successful, 
• when I learn to pray better, 
• when I find the right person in my life 
• when, when, when… 

Rupp goes on to say:

Waiting for the “when” keeps me from appreciating what I now have. Longing for promises and dreaming dreams is not a harmful deed as long as the present moment is not overlooked, as long as gratitude rises for what is already here, as long as I do not base my happiness on what is still wanting. Thankfulness for what has already been given is the foundation for hoping for what is not yet. 

Today, I am going to put aside: “when this happens,” “if only this could be,” “when things get better,” and “as soon as I have this.” 

I am going to harvest what I now have, gather all the many gifts that are already mine. I am going to observe what has been placed in the granary of my heart and marvel at the abundance. 

I will stand before this heap of blessings and take a long, grateful look. I will say farewell to my “when” and be thankful for what is.” *

However it is that you come to acknowledge the abundance of blessings in your life, and whatever means you choose to display your gratitude to those who have influenced your journey, know that it is enough that you made this effort. 

Know this too: I appreciate you dear reader. Your thoughts. Your comments. Your support and feedback each and every week. 

This has been a challenging year for me. For you, too. We are almost through it. And that alone is something I celebrate and am grateful for. I believe that the best is yet to come, that there is purpose in every day and in every act we undertake. Whatever the obstacle, we must strive to be patient with ourselves, compassionate to others, and to do the harder right rather than the easier wrong.

Have a wonderful, peaceful, and bountiful Thanksgiving!

*Excerpted and adapted from Bishop Cipich’s message to the parishioners of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, November 2022.

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