Waiting And Patience

In his biography of Saint John Paul II, Witness to Hope, George Weigel describes how Cardinal Wojtyła kept in touch with old friends throughout his episcopate in Kraków, and how he continued to accompany them on their journeys of faith.

In his book, Weigel includes what Cardinal Wojtyła wrote in response to a letter from a friend and mother of two-year-old twins. He wrote:

I sense tiredness in your letter, which is easy to understand, knowing your character and your nervous system. On top of this, you always wanted to plan and do everything rationally. And here is the kingdom of irrationality, where normal activity and energy aren’t enough; you need to wait things out, some time to do nothing, and, simply, patience—especially since there are two. I realized that, on the one hand, there is always a price we pay for love. On the other, thanks to God, love is returned in that price. 

Just like this mother of twins, many of us like to “plan and do everything rationally.” Advent reminds us that God is not subject to our plans, but rather, He is the plan. St. John Paul II’s letter can remind us that we are called to be patient and wait for His coming, for the return of love.

St. John Paul II, Pray for Us!

Letter from George Weigel’s Witness to Hope (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999; 215).