Waiting: Day 6

Friday December 5, 2025

And when his time of service was ended, he (Zechariah) went to his home.

Luke 1:23, English Standard Version

According to verses 21 and 22, the conversation with Gabriel took a while, long enough that people were starting to wonder what might have happened to Zechariah while he was burning incense. Finally, he pops out and starts making gestures to them, proof that Mr. Gabriel was serious about the whole silence thing. Today he’d just send them a text message on his phone. Unless Gabriel deactivated it, that is.

After the angelic visit, Zechariah goes back to work, back to the hum-drum life of an ordinary priest fulfilling his temple duty. Then he heads for home.

I don’t know about you, but I’d be really tempted to hang around the temple a little longer on the off-chance Gabriel wants to drop by again. You know, let’s relive this big, holy moment. Spiritual highs are intoxicating, and we’re often enticed to try to remain in that experience. Remember how Peter wanted to build booths (huts) for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah up on the Mount of Transfiguration? Peter realized it wasn’t every day you got to see Jesus glowing while chatting it up with two of Israel’s greatest heroes, and then, to top it all off, God’s divine voice booms in the midst of a cloud. That beats the dickens out of dealing with all those pesky people who want Jesus to heal them.

Here's another important point that we mustn’t miss. Spiritual highs are the means, not the ends, for our relationship with God. They are preparatory, and they sustain us in the long walk of faith. But they are not the real goal. Service and ministry are. We go back to real life.

I think of it this way. I loved every date night, anniversary celebration, weekend getaway, and romantic road trip that Regina and I took when our kids were at home. They were like Hallmark moments, except for the time I wrecked a moped and Regina ended up with a bad ankle sprain and a cut to go with it. But, it was heaven right up until the crash! Other than that, those times away were dreamy and magical. And the kids and work were waiting at home.

So, home we went. Just like Zechariah. Just like Jesus led Peter, James, and John back down the mountain to meet up with the other disciples. Real life was calling.

This Christmas season-and throughout the year-savor those wonderful moments of spiritual communion, those holy experiences that seem almost like angels are visiting. But remember that God leads you back to life, hum-drum and ordinary as it may be sometimes. That’s where we’re meant to live.

And it might just be where God shows up again . . .