Sam: A Lesson in Waiting at the Ready

This is Sam.

He has chased a squirrel up a tree. He has been at his tree post for quite some time ... standing and watching and waiting for another view of the squirrel. On occasion, he will jump up onto the trunk of the tree, straining to see into the branches. Maybe that squirrel is hiding there? Maybe that squirrel is going to make a leap for the fence? Maybe that squirrel will come within reach and ... he'll have him!

This is the squirrel.
Can you see him up there on the garage roof? He's watching Sam from his very secure perch. Sam cannot see him.

As I watched Sam and this squirrel play out their morning ritual, I was reminded of what it is to wait ... ready for action. Sam will stay at the base of that tree watching and waiting and circling and sitting and ... at the ready ... until he is called into the house. If you look closely at the picture his tail is wagging. He is waiting with great anticipation ... joy even! ... at what is coming. He knows that the chase of this squirrel will end ... one day ... in such fun. It may not be fun for the squirrel, but it will be for Sam!

Shouldn't we wait this way for what God has for us? Shouldn't we watch for how God is working, circle around all the things that happen and look for his handiwork? Shouldn't we sit and listen for His movement ... even when we don't see or hear Him? And, most importantly ... shouldn't we do this with joy, knowing that our Father in heaven delights to give us all good things? Yes, we should. And, we need to do it because it gives us hope for all that God wants to give to us.

Sunday's readings include the passage from Exodus about the institution of the Passover as a feast of remembrance ... a remembrance of God's salvation. Our Great Thanksgiving is that remembrance of God's saving act through the sacrifice of Jesus His Son and our Savior. He is our hope in all things and through all things. The ritual of the Great Thanksgiving is worth waiting and watching and circling and sitting at the ready ... to celebrate. Because it is in the Eucharist that we find our hope ... our Hope in Jesus. And, He is our Joy.