Waiting, Wondering, Watching

Yesterday evening I drove through Lowestoft, past a huge building site. It was dark but lights were shining on busy diggers. High-viz jacketed men were shifting rubble, digging foundations.

We’re told there will be: ‘a new restaurant catering for 80 people, a civic square, a new cultural and community hub with studio space for creative businesses, pop up bars and leisure sites.’ It’s received £14.3m from central government £10m from local funds.

We’ve seen the sketches of what it might look like. But… When will it actually be completed? Will it Be good value for money? Is it really what the town needs?

We’re waiting, wondering, watching.

Yesterday’s news showed crowds of birdwatchers up a quiet cul-de-sac for a second day  in Shelf, near Halifax. A ‘scarlet tanager’ had been spotted on a garden washing line. It’s the first time one’s been seen in Yorkshire. Apparently scarlet tanagers normally travel between the eastern United States and South American forests.

Initial reports that the bird had been sighted were shared on social media. Dozens of birdwatchers assembled from all over the country.

One twitcher who’d come from London described catching a glimpse of the bird as ‘exhilarating’. Another man had travelled hundreds of miles and been there five hours… waiting, wondering, watching.

This morning I read Acts chapter 1. Jesus has died and come back to life. His disciples ask: ‘What’s going to happen next? When’s it going to happen? What should we do?’ Jesus says, ‘You’re asking the wrong questions… you will receive power.’ With that he ascends to heaven, leaving his disciples waiting, wondering, watching.

Last night a small group of us from church talked about times each day when we pause, make space to pray, read, listen to our God. We discussed the practice of ‘keeping the Sabbath’ – each week setting aside one day to stop, rest and contemplate.

I like to be out-and-about, active, working stuff out. Instead of being dominated by life’s busyness, sometimes I need to be waiting, wondering, watching.