watching and waiting

The train is moving fast. "Full steam ahead!" cries the conductor, otherwise known as, Me. This wooden train made up of primary colored blocks disappears around a bend. He watches and waits, craning his neck to see the wooden train hidden behind my back. "Where did it go?" I ask. "Where is the train?"

This is what they call a 'milestone'. You see, a few weeks ago, if the train had disappeared, he would've simply lost interest and picked up another toy, figuring that the train was gone. But not now. Now, He knows. He knows it's there. And he's waiting for a glimpse of that silly wooden train. He searches with his eyes, side to side, back and forth in anticipation!

"Choooo-chooo, chugga-chugga, choooo-chooo!" The conductor brings it on around. We continue the game, he keeps on watching and waiting. It never gets old for him. He never gets tired of the play. He doesn't quickly forget that the train has vanished. He waits. He loves his train and begs for it with his eyes. When it reappears, he is overjoyed and squeals with delight! With arms reaching and eyes laughing, the baby boy looks at the train as if to say, "I missed you, where did you go?"

I slump my shoulders over in shame. He knows what it means to wait. And not just wait, but wait with anticipation, with expectancy. I've forgotten again. I've gotten distracted and have even grown weary with my distractions. What am I waiting for? No, Who am I waiting for.

He's done everything for me. He's given His only Son for me to be free from sin, guilt and shame. And what have I done? I've forgotten, become distracted. I have grown bored of it all, tired of waiting with the urgency I once had. I know He'll be returning, and SOON! I know I'll be answering to Him for my life's work. I know I'll be held accountable for the things I've said, done, thought. He isn't some silly toy, not some game played to stave off the stench of boredom. He's my Redeemer, my Saviour, my King!

And what have I done? I've grown tired of the waiting, the watching. I've forgotten, moved on to other things, moved on to complacency. The locomotion that once rushed inside of me, has now slowed to a pitiful stall. My burning passion for souls has cooled to little more than ashes blown off course with the winds of time.

He sits in amazement, his eyes gleaming with suspense. Sadly, this won't always be. Not too long from now, he'll become bored of it all. Once he learns that the train will come back the baby boy will stop waiting. He will move on to a new adventure.

Lord, help me not forget. Help me to live in anticipation. Teach me to live watching and waiting or Your return.

Psalm 90:12-14 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

1 Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"