^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
As a Boy Scout in my early youth, our Scout Master was an Army Drill-Sargent from Fort Ord. Fort Ord at the time was one of the assigned bases for basic training. Not wanting to be less than the best, our Scout Master fitted our whole troop of young boys with Army surplus military packs, pup tents, and even auxiliary boot covers called spats. He taught us how to march in cadence like his squad back on base. Our hikes became a march. Our hikes became walks with purpose.
One of the commands that could be given is “Mark Time, March”. It means to march in time without moving forward. Feet moving up and down with no progress forward. It was a command to stop progress while remaining diligent for the next command. To “mark time” today has changed it to “doing nothing or wasting time or no progress and doing nothing important.”
For me when I read, “wait” here in Psalms, it is not doing nothing, but more a preparation for the next command. It is stop to be able to start. It is a command to stop forward momentum and simply rejoice. Progress sometimes limits our joy. Let my heart rejoice in trust in the God who calls us to wait. Perhaps joy comes from seeing God’s progress in me and that takes a moment of reflection.
Every Christian has times when they think there is no forward progress. Remember that God can and will use these times to instill a new perspective on joy.
What shall we call Him? Jesus waiting in joy.
————————
# Just Larry