What Are We Waiting For?”

Submitted by Jarvis Howe, M.A.

This past weekend, my fiancée Letizia and I attended the wedding of two friends of ours. During the ceremony, I was struck by the realization that in 2 weeks it would be Letizia and I standing at the altar exchanging vows. Of course we have known that July 11 is the date we are to be married for eight months now. Until this past weekend though, it was just a date in the future; it felt so far away. Thinking through the logistics of picking up family from airports and train stations, decorating the ceremony and reception sites, and taking care of all other wedding-related matters big and small has jolted me out of the “we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it” mindset. As I write this blog I still have not purchased a gift for my best man, my brother. I’ve had eight months and I decided to wait until the last two weeks to start looking.

I am probably no worse a procrastinator than most of my Generation Y cohorts, but I still desire to do better in the future. It is important to note that young people do not have a monopoly in the procrastination market. I see people of all ages playing the procrastination game in counseling. People who have had issues for years and need to act and deal with past hurts so they can move on, choose to do nothing because it’s more comfortable to avoid them. We also like to procrastinate in our spiritual lives. I have issues in my own life that should be addressed and that are keeping me from a closer relationship with God, but I have chosen to put them off until tomorrow more times than I care to admit. There are always a million reasons to put off anything. Satan will do anything he can to convince you that whatever it is: “It’s not that big of a deal.” “Other people do it.” “It’s not really hurting anybody.” “God loves me anyway.” Matthew 24:42 instructs us: Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. This verse has always frightened me a little bit, and maybe it should. Am I doing everything I can to live for the Lord? Could I be doing better? What are the lies I am telling myself in an attempt to come to terms with or justify my sin?

With as fast as life moves, it’s so easy to put things on the back burner, whether they be spiritual matters or impending weddings. I hope that I am ready for both my wedding day and judgement day. But maybe the time has come to stop hoping and get to work!