Waiting

DAY 2 – Monday December 1, 2025

Now while he (Zechariah) was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot

 to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Luke 1:8

Woody Allen is not a source I often cite in matters relating to faith and life, but he is credited with a statement we often hear repeated. “80% of success,” Mr. Allen said, “is just showing up.” Now, you can quibble that percentage is too high, or perhaps too low, but there’s a certain truth in what he’s saying.

The Jewish priests of his day were divided into groups, divisions as the English Standard Version, puts it, which served in Jerusalem on a rotational basis. We might think of military reservists who report once a month and then return to their daily lives between their times of service. Zechariah would likely have left his home a couple of times each year to serve for an eight-day term.

When it came his time, Zechariah didn’t call in sick or claim things were too hectic at home. He just showed up. And the rest of the story would be vastly different if he hadn’t.

Think about the times your life has been impacted simply because you were in the place you were supposed to be. For some, the story of their marriage began in such a way-It was just another day at work, and she walked in . . . or I really didn’t want to go to class that day, but I figured I should, so I did, and then he happened to sit beside me . . . You get the picture, right?

Just showing up can have a huge impact on others as well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, “My parents were always there.” Ball games, dance recitals, band and chorus concerts, church plays. There they were. Recently, our youngest son left a conference to go home because his little girl was sick. He just showed up.

And what about gathering for worship? There are a lot of things we could do on a Sunday morning, and one Sunday is pretty much like all the others. Plus, if we’re honest, how many sermons do we really remember? Very few, at least for me, and I’m the one preaching most that I hear. But Scripture tells us that Jesus went to worship “as was His custom” (Luke 4:16). Like Zechariah, Jesus showed up for church. Regularly. Frequently. Habitually.

Just show up. You never know what might happen. Or who you might meet.