The Waiting Game

As I write this I am exactly one month from my departure date. Part of me is so eager to go to South Korea that it seems an eternity to wait, yet I know time is going to fly by as I try to be as ready as possible for what awaits me there. For a little while there was a chance my friend Linds and I were going to leave before the end of September due to some sort of teacher shortage, but as it turns out, we are on as originally planned for October 16th.

I have, in many ways, already “checked out” here at home.  My apartment is in shambles from the moving process, the impossibly huge amount of paperwork has been submitted, and I have informed pretty much all necessary persons that I am leaving.   All there is left to do is wait.  Ah, the Waiting Game.  Why do they call it a game, anyway?  How does one go about winning said game?   I haven’t felt this way since I was six years old on Christmas Eve, suffering from the annually chronic ailment of “eager anticipation.”  Back then, the only cure was to somehow fall asleep until morning, and that is not really a realistic option in this instance.  I wonder, is it strategic to try to ignore the fact that I am looking forward to this new adventure, or does refusing admit that I am waiting mean that I am disqualified from playing the game?  I’m probably overthinking this.

From a more rational perspective, I know that I need this interim period in order to study Korean, pack, say proper goodbyes to everyone, and spend some preparatory time in prayer and Bible study.   I also think it would be wise to check my expectations, as I know they are likely under-informed and inaccurate.  This will help me to cope with culture shock and avoid disillusionment when confronted with things that do not match my assumptions concerning them.

Unfortunately, even understanding all of this doesn’t really help with my impatience…so I’m going to sing a little song (my typical way of handling most situations).  It goes like this:

 ♪ Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry

 ♫When you get impatient you only start to worry

 ♪ Remember, remember, that God is patient, too

             ♫And think of all the times when others have had to wait for you

You can listen to it by clicking here.  It's kind of a blast from the past.