The concept ‘kairos’ is all about living into God’s time, and not imposing our own onto it. How hard it is to do that in a culture that tries to control, micromanage, every second of Chronos-time!
At Kairos’ household, this concept is being employed, tested, as we’re waiting, waiting, waiting for the arrival of our babes. We thought it could happen way too early (twins often come early). We toured the NICU, got the room ready in the second trimester. Stocked up on premie diapers. All that. But, for us, that was not in the cards.
Then we thought that it likely would come sometime the last two weeks. That would have been average for Twins, and they are ‘full term’ now. So we thought for sure this was it. I cleared my plate of long term projects. Ms. Kairos took vacation time at work. We made sure the bottle warmers worked and that I had read the books I needed to read to know something of what I was supposed to be doing. But, lo and behold, no babes yet.
Now we’re in the home stretch. Tests show that the babies are doing great, with no real medical reason for them to induce (for the next two weeks, ack!).
So we wait. Could happen tonight. Could happen weeks from now. And we release ourselves to God and God’s time. But waiting is hard (particularly for Ms. Kairos, whose body aches and isn’t fully hers any longer and who can’t sleep and can’t empty her bladder and so on). But we are living into the fullness of God’s time. We know that they’ll be here when they are ready. Take your time, Girls. We’ll be waiting for you…
Isaiah 40: 28-31 (NRSV)
28Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
30Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.