Lord knows we are so tired of this. A lifetime of it has been too much. Wars all over the world which disrupt and destroy lives, even those of our own people. We wait and hope they will end someday. We wait for political wrangling to calm down, for elected officials to govern with wisdom and compassion. We wait for democracy to work as it should. We wait for people to come together, complete in our differences yet affirming the rights of all to live in justice and peace. We wait for God to come and make this happen when we cannot. It’s been a long and dark night of waiting for what seems like forever.

The Prescribed Wait

Jesus’ story of ten bridesmaids is one of waiting for what should happen without knowing when it might happen. In his time, wedding celebrations were huge events lasting for days, and everyone in the community could join in. The custom was for the bridegroom to come into this festival atmosphere, escorted by young women (virgins they call them) into the marriage ceremony. But in his story, five of ten bridesmaids were not adequately prepared for their duties, for they did not take oil to fill their lamps or torches to light the way for the procession of the bridegroom. What’s more, all five of them had fallen asleep and were not on deck when word arrived he was on the way. The five with enough oil refused to share with those who did not. It turned out too bad for the five who had to go buy oil, for sure enough, that’s when the bridegroom came. They unfortunately were locked out, and the doorkeeper did not recognize the unprepared ladies.

All right, nice little metaphor here, but really, how can we live with not knowing when life, our world will ever get better? Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, the average person was just trying to make the best of life where they lived, had family and history. Many of them never saw this coming, at least in this way. And who would have ever thought we’d live in a country where cherished election counts are seriously questioned? Everyone guards their tongues in fear of saying something that’ll start trouble. None of this is a fun celebration. Sorry, Jesus, but stories of wedding parties don’t fit with today’s scenario.

Survive and Thrive

The point is not in what is happening; it’s rather in what we do in the waiting. Even when we anticipate welcomed events, we still have to wait until they happen. So a child counts down the number of days until Christmas, parents plan a nursery for the birth of a baby, most of us keep some kind of calendar and mark time in some way. It’s life, and what’s required.

The wise ones among us know what to do in the waiting. We prepare. We read and educate ourselves on what is happening all in an effort to make informed decisions when elections are held. We check in on our neighbors, both those next door and across town. We learn to have quiet, respectful conversations with each other, even if we disagree but at least seek to understand the other side. All of this is more than filling time. It’s living life as it is meant to be, doing and relating as we are called and how we should. It’s reaching into resources and finding strengths in ways we didn’t know we had.

Like the sleepy bridesmaids though, distractions can turn our attention away. When we focus too much on media reports, when we hunker down in fear, when we hold on to prejudices that require us to control others, we let ourselves be swayed by messages and posts that deny the reality in which we are living. The tension of it all centers in distrust, rallies, signs, and arming ourselves against our neighbor.

Ok, but get back to the story here. What about those five who wouldn’t share their oil with the five that didn’t have any? Was that right? Shouldn’t they have shown some compassion or generosity? You know, this is a Bible story after all.

Don’t deflect. Bury yourself in minutia, and you’ll miss the point. This isn’t about taking care of those who fail to do what they should have done for themselves. Preparation requires responsibility. You are responsible for yourself. It’s the part of loving neighbor as you love yourself.  Do your part. Prepare yourself.

And in this incidence, the point is some things you’ve got to do yourself. There’s no sweet talking people here that things are going to be all right no matter how you live your life. Examine what attitudes you have in your own space that feed the fear and tension. Peace begins in the soul. The trouble with Jesus is you can’t get by borrowing someone else’s faith. Love. Your. Neighbor.

Make It a Watch Party

Do the best you can by preparing yourself while you wait. Yet, in the end (or end time, however you read this), we can only step back and watch. The bridegroom is coming. God will show up. Be alert and ready doing what you are supposed to do, who you are supposed to be so you will be known and let into the party.

After all, who wants to miss a good party?

“So stay awake and be prepared,

because you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

 Matthew 25:1-13

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