Waiting For the Proper Time

From 24 Hours a Day, June 26: “There is a proper time for everything. I must learn not to do things at the wrong time, that is, before I am ready or before conditions are right”.

So how am I supposed to learn this? I am an impulsive, compulsive person- always jumping in and saying or doing what I later feel is “the wrong thing”. Well, sometimes, it might actually be the right thing, but at the wrong time. I can remember many instances where I just jumped in and said or did something, and then it backfired.

Some of those things might have been quite effective had I waited a bit before acting. In fact, I might have had a chance to think some more instead of just reacting and flying into action, and then I might have behaved quite differently.

Hmmm. So what can help me here? How can I learn restraint- which is basically what we are referring to. Think of the marathon runner who begins a race before warming up, or before training enough. Will he finish among the first guys? Not much chance.

So what helps? Sitting with what is, and turning to my Higher Power to ask for guidance, and to ask for help. I think the impulsiveness has to do with not being able to wait for a change, or else, with not being able to stand things as they are.

Lately I’ve been doing this- on long drives in my car, I’ve been taking the time to talk to my Higher Power instead of my telephone (or instead of listening to my cd’s, mp3’s or the radio) I’ve been taking the time to say what’s on my mind and in my heart- to share with my Higher Power, Who is my friend, my Father, my guide. I simply tell Him what’s been happening and ask for His help. Sometimes I just want to fill Him in on my life. Oh yes, of course, He already knows this, but I’ve learned through Torah sources that He wants to hear it directly from Me.

If you would have told me years ago that I’d be doing something like that, I think I would have laughed at you- or maybe at the picture of me doing this. But you know what? It’s no laughing matter. It’s probably the sanest thing I’ve done in a long time.

Taking the time and space to connect like this before reacting to life is the way that I can teach myself to wait until conditions are right, or till I am ready to act. It’s the way to teach myself to act, not to react. It’s the way I can practice just “being” with the situation, no matter how uncomfortable or urgent it seems, without having to respond or fly ahead into something I’ll be sorry for later.

So, like everything else in my life, taking the time, and using my inner wisdom to connect with my Creator, and listen to the way He is guiding me, will help me get my life in order, my act together. King Solomon said it a long time ago. There is a time for everything. Today I pray that I will have the patience to wait until He lets me know that it’s that right time, instead of impulsively jumping into waters that are too hot, or even too cold for me….or before I’ve even put my swimsuit on.

But the secret is, even in this “waiting”, I am not alone. I am being led.