Lord knows we’re tired, for real. God knows we sick of this mess. We’ve been dealing with this our whole lives. Honestly, it’s way too much. Wars all over the world wreaking lives, tearing families apart, even those of our own people. We wait, and hope the chaos will chill someday. We wait for political wrangling to calm down, for elected officials to actually do their jobs and govern with wisdom and compassion. We wait for democracy to work as it should. We wait for people to come together, respect each other’s differences yet affirm the rights of all to live in justice and peace.

When we can’t fix it ourselves, we look to God to step in. It’s been a long and dark night of forever waiting for something better to show up.

The Wait

Jesus’ story of ten bridesmaids is a familiar one of waiting for what should happen without knowing when it might happen. In his time, wedding celebrations weren’t just a one-day event. Rather, they were huge galas 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) carrying lamps to light the way into the marriage ceremony.

But in his story, five of ten bridesmaids showed up empty-handed. They didn’t have enough oil to fill their lamps or torches to light the way for the procession. 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. Bad timing. Sure enough, when unprepared ones ran off to buy more fuel, that’s when the bridegroom came. They unfortunately were locked out, and the doorkeeper did not recognize the ill-equipped ladies.

Yeah, Cool Story... But Look Around

All right, nice little metaphor here, but really, how exactly are people supposed to deal with all this uncertainty, not knowing when life, our world will ever get better? Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Iran, and Lord knows elsewhere, the average person’s 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 guessed we’d live in a country where cherished election counts are seriously questioned? Everyone guards their tongues, scared of saying something that’ll start trouble. None of this feels like a wedding party, a fun celebration. Sorry, Jesus, but stories of celebrations feel out of touch, don’t fit with today’s scenario.

Survive and Thrive

That’s not the point. The point’s not in what’s happening; it’s rather in what we do while waiting. Even when we anticipate welcomed events, we still have to wait until they happen. So kids count 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. That’s life, and what’s required. Waiting comes with the package.

The wise ones know the move. They prepare. They read and educate on what is happening all in an effort to make informed decisions when elections are held. They check in on neighbors, next door and across town. They learn to have quiet, respectful conversations with each other, even if folks disagree but at least seek to understand the other side. All of this is more than filling time. It’s living right, 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. Because understanding beats yelling.

Like the sleepy bridesmaids though, people get sidetracked. When we stayed glued too much on media reports, when we hunker down in fear and lock ourselves away, when we hold on to prejudices and try controlling others, we let ourselves be swayed by messages and wild 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. More division. More anger. More fear. More treating your neighbor like the enemy.

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? Wouldn’t that be more loving? More generous? More Christian? Shouldn’t they have shown some compassion or generosity? You know, this is a Bible story.

Don’t deflect. Bury yourself in minutia, and you’ll miss the message. 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. You have to do your part. Don’t expect everybody else to carry what you should’ve been carrying yourself. It’s the part of loving neighbor as you love yourself.

As yourself. You’ve got to take care of your own soul too.

There’s no sweet talking people here how 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.

Because peace doesn’t start in Washington. Because peace doesn’t start in the headlines. Peace begins in the soul.

And one thing about Jesus? You can’t borrow somebody else’s faith. You can’t coast on somebody else’s relationship with God. You can’t live off somebody else’s spirituality. You have to build your own.

And while you're at it: Love. Your. Neighbor.

Make It a Watch Party

Do the best you can by preparing yourself while you wait. Get Ready. Keep growing. Keep serving. Keep loving people. Because 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’re supposed to do, who you are supposed to be so you will be known and let into the party.

Honestly? 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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