This summer, we are doing a lot of talking. We do a weekly book study, we go to church on Sunday nights, we do devotionals every morning, we do a Bible study once a week, and we talk about plans. If I'm being honest, a lot of times this bothers me.

It's not that these things are bad - they're great. I just usually have many things I need to get done, and I would rather be out doing rather than talking. I would much rather finish everything that needs doing before waiting around and talking about it.

This past weekend, I joined my family on vacation to the mountains. At one point, we went fishing, and I started thinking. Fishing is pretty much just waiting. You cast your line, and then you wait. You don't do anything except pay attention until a fish bites and you reel him in. That waiting is even more important than the reeling in. If you don't ever wait, you won't every catch anything.

That's when it hit me: maybe waiting is doing.


Maybe all of the talking we do is the waiting and being attentive part that's essential.