The Weariness of Waiting for a Presence

The people have long waited on a Presence who would come that they "might have life and might have it more abundantly."  Preachers and priests have promised that from pulpits all over the country and we have waited.  Joan Chittister alludes to this waiting in her article in the National Catholic Reporter about the new Pope and talks about people who are disillusioned with the church/denomination/faith!  She refers to the writing of Pat Howard who summed up the disillusionment in two sentences, "I still believe the church will change in due course...What I underestimated was the weariness that comes with the waiting."

People are weary in waiting --whether it is in religion or politics or life in general.  They think that nothing really matters, in the end --it will still be business as usual.  Chittister goes on:  "The problem with weariness is far worse than anger.  Far more stultifying than mere indifference.  Weariness comes from a soul whose hope has been disappointed one time too many.  To be weary is not a condition of the body--that's tiredness.  No, weariness is a condition of the heart that has lost the energy to care anymore."

I have this gut feeling that most people, facing the struggle of prolonged weariness, would jump at any opportunity to grasp the presence of someone, anyone, who could offer a solution or an exit strategy for them.  Or even a kind word or a smile.