Wednesday Wisdom
One of the things I was most looking forward to on our Alaskan cruise was seeing the wildlife. Specifically whales. Before we left, I had heard so many stories about how, although never guaranteed, the chances of seeing whales in the ocean were pretty darn good.
On one of the first days at sea, we were hanging out on the observation deck and I saw a ripple far off in the water. That put everyone on high alert that we were in for a sighting. But nothing materialized while I sat there and I left shortly to go get something to eat.
Several hours later, I ran into a few people we had been sitting with and all told of how, just after I left, they saw lots of whales near the ship. Tails, breaches, I was told it was incredible!
For the next several days people kept asking me, “did you see that pod of dolphins? Did you see the bear on the shore? Did you see that mountain goat?” I had seen none of it and was starting to get a hollow feeling in my chest that whispered you’re missing all the good stuff. I thought, why was everyone else being treated to these magnificent sightings and I’m seeing bumpkis?
On the second to the last day on the ship, I was napping when Denny called to tell me that there were several whale sightings on our side of the ship and to get to the balcony. I jumped up, still in a sleepy stupor and went to look, only to see nothing. My heart sank. I thanked him for calling and told him I was going back to my nap.
Just as I turned to go back in, I saw a spout, and then another. To my amazement, I then saw a whale breach. I couldn’t believe it! I didn’t have to rush or crowd the glass competing with a slew of other people. They were just there, waiting for the exact right time to reveal themselves to me.
Denny returned to the room, and we stood together for nearly an hour, completely captivated by a private show of spouts, whale tails, and breathtaking breaches.
Afterward, as the adrenaline faded, I reflected on how disappointed I had been all week just because I hadn't seen them yet. I had wasted a lot of energy comparing my empty horizon to everyone else's highlight reels. But standing there on our balcony I was gently reminded of a profound truth: God’s timing is not our own.
We can often live so much of our time desperately scanning the waters of life, wondering why everyone else is celebrating events while we’re left in a holding pattern.
Of course the whales were always there, they were just moving to a rhythm and flow different than my personal cruise itinerary. And I realized that God wasn't withholding the blessing; He was just timing it for when the noise cleared so I could really focus on it.
Sometimes, we just have to wait, trusting that the Creator of the deep saves the most beautiful views for the exact right moment.
