I was chatting with my friend Gianna on the phone yesterday when she said, “I feel like it’s the day after Disneyland.” And then she laughed. “You know what I mean?”
Yes. Yes, I knew exactly what Gianna meant. You probably do too.
Disneyland. “The happiest place on earth” right? Most of us plan for weeks, if not months, to go on a Disney vacation. And then we experience all that happiness – the rides, the shows, the parades – and we come home e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d.
So why was yesterday a day-after-Disneyland kind of day for Gianna?
She was up at 4 a.m. to take one of her college-age daughters to the airport. Several hours later as we caught up with each other, she said, “I’m finally putting away the Christmas decorations.”
And that’s when she confessed her day-after-Disneyland fatigue.
Her words were such a perfect description of the after-the-holidaze slump. All the reasons to go, go, go are gone. So are the visiting family and friends. All the extras—the “lights, camera, and ACTION!” of the season have ended. All that’s left is, well, the cleanup.
(And to be honest, while working on this blog I finally reorganized my gift box and my wrapping paper that was cluttering my bedroom.)
Gianna’s next words had me tucking my phone against my ear and shoulder so I could grab a pen and scribble them down.
“We are built for anticipation.”
Yes.
I fought to stay in the conversation even as I started delving into the significance of her words.
We are built for anticipation.
There’s something about waiting … waiting with hope because we know something good is going to happen. Our car ride ends at the happiest, most magical place on earth. Or we wake up and – at last! – it’s Christmas morning.
But today?
Today it’s after all the holiday fun and we’re just tired, cleaning up the mess. And really, what are we waiting for?
What are we anticipating?
Maybe we just need to remember that we are made for anticipation and we’re waiting for something so much bigger than seeing Mickey Mouse or finding out what’s hidden beneath all the wrapping paper and bows.
I agree with my friend that anticipation is woven into our DNA by our Creator. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) says “He has planted eternity in the human heart …”
We long for more than now. For more than this. Our hearts are looking forward to the “more” God has promised us. For what waits for us in eternity, when there’s no more disappointment, no more suffering, no more heartache.
During our lifetime we’ll experience all sorts of anticipations, little ones and Disney-size ones. But each one is a mere glimpse of one embedded in our soul. As motivational speaker Wayne Dyer said, “You are not a human being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a human experience.”
We are Made for Anticipation http://bit.ly/2NrsDWh #perspective #expectations #faith Share on X 'Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them.' Quote by Lucy Maud Montgomery http://bit.ly/2NrsDWh #anticipation #waiting Share on X
Comments 13
This is really good. What valuable insights and a profitable phone call!
Author
Dee: Phone calls with friends, both near and far, are often so encouraging and inspiring. Friends make such a difference in my life — you included. You should have seen me scrambling for a pen and something to write on while trying to hang on to my cellphone and keep talking to Gianna. A bit of comic relief.
Circus-day has come and passed,
and workmen sweep the commons clean
of even shadows on the grass,
but what did it all mean?
The wire-troupe without a net,
such feats of derring-do!
Are you thinking of them yet;
did they speak to you?
Did clowns on stilts bid you smile,
a moment from your careworn day
to take you to a place whereby
your heart could learn again to play?
Inside the tent, a world is whole;
did you let it heal your soul?
Author
My friend: This poem … it just may be one of my favorites. There is something whimsical about it. Truth that captures sights and sounds … and longing. You’re in my prayers, Andrew.
Beth, I’m so glad you like it!
And so grateful for your prayers.
Author
Always, Andrew. For both you and Barb.
Wow, Andrew. This pinged on so many levels. All those questions leading to the zinger, to which, I say:
Inside the tent, a world is whole, but I’m not wholly present.
Ouch.
Between “we were made for anticipation” and “did you let it heal your soul?” I’ll be pondering a while.
What does all this mean?
“There’s something about waiting … waiting with hope because we know something good is going to happen.”
For me, this sentence is packed.
Blending your message with Andrew’s poem: Many days I don’t anticipate Disneyland or any other happy place on earth, so I not only don’t have the joy of anticipating – of hoping – but I often miss the joy while I’m there.
Lord, help me wait – with hope. Help me see the good that IS going to happen and trust in the good You haven’t shown me yet. Help me “know,” because I “know” You are good. Let anticipation replace anxiety. Teach me to live in hope, anticipation, and assurance. And, whether mountaintop or mundane, help me see and be fully right where you have me.
Author
Bernadette: I prayed your anticipation prayer … it’s beautiful.
Loved this and it hit home with me. My husband and I along with two other couples are planning a cross country RV trip for the summer with a ten day Alaskan cruise in the middle. I’ve been anticipating this trip for a very long time. But this helped me put it in perspective. My biggest anticipation is eternity with Jesus and the beauty of all He has created.
And that quote, I need to “steal” it: As motivational speaker Wayne Dyer said, “You are not a human being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a human experience.”
Author
Gail, your planned trip sounds absolutely wonderful, and all the better because you are sharing it with friends. Go ahead and savor the anticipation. And yes, eternity and all it holds for us is a wonderful thing to look forward to, isn’t it? I’m also glad you like Dyer’s quote. It’s a favorite of mine, too.
Love it and yes, I know that feeling. And I love, “Our hearts are looking forward to the ‘more’ God has promised us.” What a perfect way to describe that longing in our hearts for “home.”
Author
Angie: Thanks for joining the conversation today. I think we all agree anticipation can be a wonderful feeling.