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Meanwhile, 
the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long.
When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them.
Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.
Luke 1:21-22 NLT
The people outside had no idea what was happening with or to Zechariah. 
Yet he was having a profound encounter with Gabriel. 
Waiting. 
Waiting for people is not something we're good at. We're often not patient with ourselves, with others, with the world around us. 
Zechariah was going to have to wait and see when the promise made to him would be fulfilled, wait for John to be born, wait for him to speak, to prepare the way for the Messiah, wait for the Messiah, wait for him to act in this world.
Waiting.
Waiting to get his voice back. 
The people were waiting, and now instead if getting an explanation they got some signs. 
When we wait on others we don't know what we are allowing space for, for someone to find their way, find their words, express their heart, understand God in some way. 
Maybe like Zach we need to wait in silence sometimes. 
Maybe like the crowd we need to wait in the "not knowing".
Waiting.
In the waiting there is learning. 
Perhaps this Christmas you can make space to wait. 
Wait on God, what He is preparing the way for. 
Wait on others, give them space and time to be OK to find the words to express how they are, what they need.
Wait on ourselves, where we need to allow change. 
#christmas2023
#waiting

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