"Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting," ~ copied

Biscuit and me waiting for Jimmy to finish his medical appointment.

Hello again and welcome to today's installment, this one landing on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. I've written often about the amount of time spent waiting as we live out our days. I don't know if they have a clear determination what the average time spent waiting in a lifetime, however, they do believe they have enough data to project that we spend about one year just waiting in lines. One reason I've written about this is because how easy it is to allow our waiting time to cause us to be frustrated and angry. How do I know that? I have a dynamic trio of proofs, me, myself, and I. Because I tend to get fidgety and my ADD kicks in, (I've never been diagnosed but I thought it might explain some here.), therefore, I need to think of things I could be doing while I am waiting. If you have a smart phone, (I think I would rate mine as semi-intelligent.), you have a lot of choices, like reading a story, a book, the news; playing a game; watch some instruction videos to learn a new skill; clean up all the junk on your phone; listen to a podcast or music; or other things I didn't mention. No phone, no problem. You can pray. You can visit with other people around you. My wife would offer this one on my behalf: You can look a little weird by falling asleep with your chin on your chest. (She couldn't be with me in services on Sunday so I was there by myself. I had fully prepared to make certain I didn't fall asleep during the sermon. I had my regular 3 cups of strong Community Coffee and I had downed a large Monster energy drink during Sunday School. However, I heard the preacher making points on a text I did not recall him reading. Yikes. I was familiar with the passage but I must have lost contact with reality for a few minutes. She said it didn't surprise her one bit. I quickly read the text and got caught back up and was very happy the safety team had not brought a stretcher to my pew. Ha!) As for me, I like to do some of my Bible study work when I am waiting and I have access to phone connected internet based Bible study programs. As for the problem with the chin on the chest situation, maybe I could throw in an additional 5-hour energy drink. She still thinks the elbow in the side works best of all but she does recommend that I not persist in denying the obvious, that I was asleep. Hey, when you are our age you might as well laugh as to cry. Right? That's likely pre-Boomer dialogue but 'if the shoe fits buy one in every color'. (A saying that our Pastor likes to use.)

 

Multiple choice: Me sleeping. Or Me impersonating Uncle Si.

I went for a blood draw this morning. My doctor likes for me to have these done around once per quarter. The technology has advanced significantly. When I get the results it's almost like the song: "He sees you when your sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake!" I am able to read the results online even before the doctor gives his assessment. Last time one of the diabetic assessment reports said this, "Please stay away from the Little Debbie sweets, you hear?" That's a joke but it does tell me how carefully I am managing my diabetic condition, over a period of time. I think I know we are better off with all this information that previously was unavailable. I think we are. Those that preceded us didn't have all this access and they just got up every day and went about their business. I know. You are right. God has allowed these advancements and Jesus did say those that are sick need a physician, while those who are lost need a Shepherd. And, living a longer life ends up being meaningless if you know a lot of physicians, but, you've never met The Shepherd. Okay. I'm going to let you fill in the blanks on that little comparison while I get ready to see what the medical crystal ball reveals for my current status. Who knows? I might celebrate some really good numbers by having me one of those huge home cooked meals. That is, if the home cooker agrees. Go ahead and laugh and I will hope she does too. May God bless each one. Amen and Amen.