When Is Soon?

Soon.  The dictionary defines it as a time that is not long from now.  But when is that?

We have all said things like “let’s get together soon” and then nothing happens.  A year later we realize no get-together got together. We silently promise ourselves we will not let another year pass and then…. it does.

Soon…. I’ll start saving for retirement.  Soon… I’ll start writing that book.   Soon… I’ll return to church.

Soon is a dangerous word.  It indicates we are making plans, creating space in our life and on our calendar for some action to be taken.  It is a word that is filled with anticipation. It is also a word that does not have enough oomph behind it to make those plans a reality.  Soon is a fuzzy, blurry word.  It feels good when we say it – like we have taken care of whatever needs being taken of.  But that is an illusion.  Soon should be a reserved parking space, something with a defined time and place. Yet it sometimes feels more like driving over a cliff.  Maybe you’ll land safely or maybe you won’t.  We are in freefall hoping things happen without our intervention.

When it comes to our faith, we can “soon” ourselves further and further away from the One who wants us always to be near Him.  Soon I’ll get back to mass.  So, this Sunday at 10 AM?  Or just some Sunday…soon?   Soon I’ll make an Adoration visit.  When would that be…He’ll be there all day!  Oh, soon.  Right.  He should wait there for you, I guess?  Soon I’ll set aside daily prayer time, but it can’t be today – that’s too soon.

None of us knows how many soon’s we have. If we want to put off writing that book, we may miss a creative opportunity but if we delay getting our spiritual life together, we will miss out on that most precious connection with the One who knew each of us before we were formed in the womb.  Even though He’ll patiently wait for us, let us not make Him wait for… Soon.