Wait on God and trust Him during times of uncertainty like the pandemic, columnist says

My senior year in high school was full of leading cheers, bouncing a basketball, studying chemistry and sharing a hurried dinner with my mom and dad.

I could hardly wait until college.

My college years were great fun with the best friends, late nights, searching for answers to questions of my future career, future husband and future life.

I could hardly wait to graduate.

My early years of marriage held times of struggle to get along, but there was the fun of setting up housekeeping, close couple friends, first holidays together, and dreaming about the future.

I could hardly wait to have a baby.

My precious son was loved beyond anything I could have imagined, his smile brightened my day, his cries punctuated my nights, his schedule dominated my life.

I could hardly wait until he was more independent.

Then — in what now seems like no time at all — my son graduated from high school, then college and married. Today, his son is in college and his daughter in high school.

My meaningful but demanding career came to an end.

My parents passed on.

I don’t think God gave us life in order to rush through it. Today, I want to grab those past moments back and linger there. The pandemic has revealed the importance of living in the now even if there is a “new” now.

This past week, I began my 17th year of “Esther Women,” a nondenominational, Christian luncheon series. It’s been more of a success than I could have ever imagined, with a large gathering of beautiful women year after year.

In this first program of the season, we grieved some of the losses the pandemic has created and celebrated the faith that has carried us through. Central to our presentation were two amazing musical artists who are graduates of Oklahoma City University.

Not long ago, both were flying high in their careers — Eryn LeCroy was singing on Broadway and Isaiah Bailey was touring the nation in a Broadway production. Then, COVID-19 stopped it all — just like that!

There was no longer any work in music theater so they entered a time of waiting. There were obvious concerns about careers, money, the loss of community. But faith overcame the anxiety, allowing them to sink into this empty time and find its treasures.

Bailey has worked as a church worship leader and sung in a variety of venues. LeCroy serves as a soloist in a large church, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, and has sung in concerts in several states.

They’ve taught voice lesson via Zoom, and they’ve deepened relationships with friends and family. They have waited patiently for the next step professionally while finding ways to serve others and maintain their craft.

Of course the place of “what if” pulls at them on occasion. What if their professional world doesn’t come back fully? What if they get derailed because of this time lapse, there are thousands more in their field who will be auditioning for jobs? What if this career that is often lacking in security is not worth the sacrifice?

But LeCroy and Bailey trust God’s call. They possess a spiritual maturity that is inspiring. It wasn’t created by the hardships of this year but was revealed during this time. The years they’ve spent in prayer, in worship, in fellowship and serving others, has given them a strong God-foundation.

Broadway shows are reopening, and, after 18 months, touring shows are hitting the road.

For all of us who could hardly wait for the next thing in life, who have a tendency to rush and live a hurried life ... we’ve learned a lesson during this pandemic and that is waiting isn’t all bad. It can build frustration or build trust. It can create boredom or be a renewal of strength.

As for LeCroy and Bailey? I can hardly wait to see their future successes! 

No, I can wait  ... with joy and gratitude in this moment for this time.

Thanks be to God!

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 30:41)."