Waiting

From Nouwen in Eternal Seasons:

For many people, waiting is a dry desert between where they are and where they want to go. And people do not like such a place. They want to get out of it by doing something.

Last night I said that I did not know what to do.
Maybe I'm not supposed to do anything.
Maybe I'm supposed to just . . . wait.

In the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke, there is a lot of waiting.
Zechariah and Elizabeth wait for their son, John, to be born.
Joseph and Mary wait for their son, Jesus, to be born.
Simeon and Anna are waiting at the temple.

And God did something amazing that none of them expected.
And God also knew how they would initially react:

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard."
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God."
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Wait...and do not be afraid.