Heather Bouley's Blog
A kinda long personal essay / Feb 19, 11:37 AM
I realized it in high school. I was diseased just like everyone else – I had the “I Can’t Wait Until Friday” Syndrome. The syndrome gave me, my friends, and the rest of America permission to whine and complain about our present lives while we wished and hoped for Friday to show up like some knight in shining armor. Standing around our lockers the syndrome provoked such uplifting conversation as “I have too much homework” and “I don’t want to go to swim practice” and “my teacher is driving me crazy” and “I can’t wait until Friday”. They syndrome is an American gift to all citizens. I grew up watching TGIF every Friday night. Week after week “Thank God it’s Friday” flashed across the screen, burning the words into my brain. But at some point in high school I got tired of complaining (or maybe I just got tired of hearing other people complain). I suddenly understood it was a heinous lie that the only day of the week I could ever enjoy was Friday (and maybe Saturday too). How could we not realize that when we constantly wished for Friday that we were wishing our lives away? I was telling my life, “No life. You can’t be enjoyable today. Today is reserved for pouting. If you want to be happy, if you want to be fulfilled, wait until Friday.” Did you ever realize, though, that Friday isn’t ever THAT good? If anything, it’s kind of worse be cause there are such high expectations for the 24 hour period. Usually I sat at home in teenage misery wondering who I could call to go do something with me.
So I started a campaign with my friends. We were not allowed to wish for Friday. We had to live our lives in the now. Whenever we caught one another groaning in our desire for the end of the week we’d remind each other to appreciate and live for today. In this manner we battled our syndrome and beat it out of our lives.
I’d like to say the battle is over, but the syndrome takes on new forms in my life. At one point it was “I Can’t Wait Until I have a Boyfriend”, “I Can’t Wait Until Graduation”, “I Can’t Wait Until I Finish Final Exams”, “I Can’t Wait Until Summer”, “I Can’t Wait Until My Paycheck”, “I Can’t Wait Until Mission Year”, “I Can’t Wait Until Christmas Break”. It’s absolutely absurd. Can I ever live my life without wishing to be at a different point then where I am now? Why am I constantly looking towards events, people, experiences, achievements to fulfill me and finally make me satisfied? I learned a long time ago that God is the only one who can satisfy my restless soul and yet I keep forgetting that He is what I need. I mean, I came to Mission Year expecting some type of ultimate fulfillment, but sometimes it’s still so easy to feel empty. How can that be? Because it’s not Mission Year that is going to fill me up – it is God that must fill me up. I can not be filled by Friday, by marriage, by a career or by doing good. I can only be filled by the love of God. I can only be satisfied when I look towards Christ.
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”~The Apostle Paul
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I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately too. So many of us waste so much time wondering and worrying about, hoping for tomorrow or next year. We never quite obtain what we’re reaching for because we refuse to take hold of the grace and joy that is already set before us. good word.
By lindsey from chicago / Feb 21, 12:36 PM / #
While I completely agree and understand what your saying, my version of this is slightly different. ‘Cause I think everything is temporary, I downplay any significance happening around me. You may remember the Gnostic gospels. We just went over them here and I was reminded of my struggles with this. So your post is well timed and appreciated.
By Daniel / Feb 25, 07:49 AM / #