Looking in the Right Place
Illustration
Stories
Will stood in line at the cafeteria oblivious to the smells and noise and activity of the other students having lunch. He was still thinking about the scripture passage that had popped up on his phone that morning. He’d never really paid much attention to the story of the Ascension but for some reason the passage caught his attention and imagination today.
He rubbed his chin. Maybe it was because he was tired of being in school and couldn’t wait to graduate from his program. He liked school well enough and was doing fine but he longed to be out in the world actually using his skills, starting his career, and moving on with life. He felt like he was stuck in place waiting for the next thing to happen just like the disciples when Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to arrive.
He tilted his head. Maybe the story also spoke to him because he was still unsure of what was going to happen next in his life. He had applied to further studies, he had sent his resumes to places he was interested in working, he had spoken to his pastor about going into be a minister, and he had even talked to a recruiter about the Marines. He just didn’t know what was next for him and despite wanting to move forward in life and being tired of waiting, he was anxious about the future.
He felt like he was stuck in a rut, had no direction, and he had no idea what came next. He tried to pray and ask God for guidance and direction, but the answer seemed to always be “keep waiting.” Will was tired of waiting. Tired of what was happening in his life. Tired of not knowing what was going to happen. Maybe that was why the words of Jesus to the disciples about waiting had him on edge.
His phone buzzed and there was a message from his best friend Martin. Isn’t it great?
Will’s fingers tapped out a reply. Isn’t what great?
He could see Matin composing a reply as the line slowly moved forward. The story that the Bible app we have on our phones showed for today.
I read it but don’t see much great in it. Will sighed. Tired of waiting and not knowing.
There was a long pause before the reply came through. Don’t you remember? Pentecost comes next.
Will stared at his phone and before he could tap out a reply another message from Martin arrived. The Holy Spirit is coming to transform our lives and our world. If we are waiting and if we are open, then God will set the world on fire through us.
Will frowned and scrolled up to reread the story of the Ascension. Jesus had told the disciples to wait and had promised them something great and the disciples had been filled with joy and excitement. So why wasn’t Will excited? He was about to ask Martin that when he saw the end of the passage.
He frowned. The disciples hadn’t gone back to wait for the Holy Spirit until they stopped looking at where Jesus had been and started to do what Jesus told them to do. Will thought about his own life. He was almost finished with school, and he knew that in a few months he would probably miss this old place. He didn’t know what was going to happen next year but honestly the thought of more school was exciting, work was exciting, entering the ministry was exciting, and even enlisting was exciting. He didn’t want to wait any longer to get going, but the truth of the matter was he knew that nothing else could start until he finished up his school year.
His phone buzzed. You get why I am excited?
Yeah. I do. Catch you at the usual place after school? Will smiled as a thumbs up emoji from Martin ended the conversation. He put his phone back in his pocket.
“So, what can I get you today, Will?” Doris said from behind the lunch counter. “Do you want your usual burger and fries?”
Will looked at the menu and shook his head. “No, I think I’m up for something different today. What’s in the chef’s surprise?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Doris grinned. “Can you trust me?”
“You’ve never led me wrong before Doris so that’s what I’ll have.”
As Will sat at a table with an absolutely wonderful meal sitting before him, he bowed his head and said a silent prayer of thanks for the blessings in his life and for knowing that God would continue to bless him in the days to come.
He rubbed his chin. Maybe it was because he was tired of being in school and couldn’t wait to graduate from his program. He liked school well enough and was doing fine but he longed to be out in the world actually using his skills, starting his career, and moving on with life. He felt like he was stuck in place waiting for the next thing to happen just like the disciples when Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to arrive.
He tilted his head. Maybe the story also spoke to him because he was still unsure of what was going to happen next in his life. He had applied to further studies, he had sent his resumes to places he was interested in working, he had spoken to his pastor about going into be a minister, and he had even talked to a recruiter about the Marines. He just didn’t know what was next for him and despite wanting to move forward in life and being tired of waiting, he was anxious about the future.
He felt like he was stuck in a rut, had no direction, and he had no idea what came next. He tried to pray and ask God for guidance and direction, but the answer seemed to always be “keep waiting.” Will was tired of waiting. Tired of what was happening in his life. Tired of not knowing what was going to happen. Maybe that was why the words of Jesus to the disciples about waiting had him on edge.
His phone buzzed and there was a message from his best friend Martin. Isn’t it great?
Will’s fingers tapped out a reply. Isn’t what great?
He could see Matin composing a reply as the line slowly moved forward. The story that the Bible app we have on our phones showed for today.
I read it but don’t see much great in it. Will sighed. Tired of waiting and not knowing.
There was a long pause before the reply came through. Don’t you remember? Pentecost comes next.
Will stared at his phone and before he could tap out a reply another message from Martin arrived. The Holy Spirit is coming to transform our lives and our world. If we are waiting and if we are open, then God will set the world on fire through us.
Will frowned and scrolled up to reread the story of the Ascension. Jesus had told the disciples to wait and had promised them something great and the disciples had been filled with joy and excitement. So why wasn’t Will excited? He was about to ask Martin that when he saw the end of the passage.
He frowned. The disciples hadn’t gone back to wait for the Holy Spirit until they stopped looking at where Jesus had been and started to do what Jesus told them to do. Will thought about his own life. He was almost finished with school, and he knew that in a few months he would probably miss this old place. He didn’t know what was going to happen next year but honestly the thought of more school was exciting, work was exciting, entering the ministry was exciting, and even enlisting was exciting. He didn’t want to wait any longer to get going, but the truth of the matter was he knew that nothing else could start until he finished up his school year.
His phone buzzed. You get why I am excited?
Yeah. I do. Catch you at the usual place after school? Will smiled as a thumbs up emoji from Martin ended the conversation. He put his phone back in his pocket.
“So, what can I get you today, Will?” Doris said from behind the lunch counter. “Do you want your usual burger and fries?”
Will looked at the menu and shook his head. “No, I think I’m up for something different today. What’s in the chef’s surprise?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Doris grinned. “Can you trust me?”
“You’ve never led me wrong before Doris so that’s what I’ll have.”
As Will sat at a table with an absolutely wonderful meal sitting before him, he bowed his head and said a silent prayer of thanks for the blessings in his life and for knowing that God would continue to bless him in the days to come.
