A friend of mine just posted on face book that he
is "waiting in a queue". Not for the modern man or woman an abnormal
act. We wait in queues at the supermarket when wanting to purchase cheese or
meat, then again at the check out counter, when we want to pay or at the
traffic lights when driving or at the theatre, when waiting to show your
ticket, to be let in. The list of queuing options is never ending. What makes
the comment of interest is my friend wrote only several weeks ago, that he was
waiting in a queue on the Highway 5 in Germany for what he termed the very last
time! Once he moved to the United States and began his "new life"
queues would be old stories to be rehashed when the grandchildren visited as he
enjoyed his twilight years. Or at least that was the impression he gave.
Think again my friend!
Queues are something we humans have unconsciously
developed in my opinion to create "quite thinking time".
Without this needed space to pause, we would find that
often our most inspiring moments or creative ideas just never came about. It is
when we stand behind the flustered mother at the cheese counter feeling over
whelmed by the choices she has to make between mild or matured Cheddar, that we
inwardly say we will not be so indecisive in our choices. We know exactly which
cheese our hubby likes or our daughter rejects - "or is it the other way
around?"
The pause at the traffic light allows us to practice
calm breathing and focused loving thoughts. But if the car behind us keeps
creeping forward, ignoring totally the fact that the car in front of me is
standing stock still making any movement on my part impossible we must
react. Getting out of the queue.
Queues are the modern day coffee breaks. Time out
from a day filled to the brim with appointments, hobbies, and obligations from
our families, work environment, spouses, friends and our own egos. They allow
us to reflect if the decision(s) we are undertaking are productive If the
direction we are headed in is beneficial. Or if perhaps we really should go to
bed an hour earlier each evening instead of trying to see if the world has
changed by watching the midnight news.
Queues give us breathing space to take check on the
pace at which we are grabbing at life. Maybe they are just showing us we are
holding on too tight!