The munch - great expectations #1

Lindy Tan recently attended the Young Workers' event titled Great expectations: to meet or not to meet, that is the question. She prefers Europe over the States, loves all things Disney and we've asked her to share her insights into expectations as a young city worker.

You’re at a concert and you’re listening to the opening act. They’re pretty unknown, and it feels slightly awkward because they make jokes about how they know that you’re not there to see them. But you don’t get it. You don't understand all the excitement and anticipation of the headline performer. In fact, you’ve only there because of the opener. Once they perform, you’re satisfied. And so you leave. You skip out on the main act altogether.

What’s wrong with this picture?

You know, it’s kind of like how life can be. No matter where you might be in life, whether you’re just starting a job, thinking about retirement or perhaps somewhere in between, it is so easy to be satisfied with our everyday expectations of how things should be.

For me, as someone who has just started their second year of full time work, I can see it all around. My peers work hard, they play hard. They get invested in relationships. They’re planning the next big holiday or saving their hard earned dollars.

But at the end of the day, what does it mean? I think there are good intentions in where we place our expectations, but I wonder if I’ve been too eager to satisfy my expectations, settling for second best. Instead of finding greater expectations, have I let myself be content with work, relationships, travel or money?

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie ..."

Luke 3:15-16

Just like us, these people in the Bible were ready to place their expectations in what was right in front of them. They had heard everything that John had to say and it seemed to fit, it seemed to make sense.

But John tells them, and us, that despite their good intentions, those expectations are misplaced. They’ve missed the mark, and so have we.

Rather than taking the credit himself, John points the people towards someone else who is far greater than him, so great that John is not even worthy to untie his sandals – a job that was, at the time, left to the lowest of servants.

In fact, this image shows us the great difference in the person that John was, and the person that John was pointing towards. John saw himself as even less than a servant, and this other man was like a king, with unspeakable power.

As you read further in to the book of Luke, you’ll discover that John was pointing towards Jesus, an ordinary man, and yet he was completely extraordinary.

So, as a young worker, what does this all mean for me?

I think it means that I need to take stock of my expectations. I no longer expect that completing my work to the satisfaction of my manager will be enough. I no longer expect that finding a relationship will be enough. I no longer expect that holidays or savings or investments will be enough.

Instead, I follow John’s lead, and I know that I can look to Jesus and I can expect him to be enough.

And he is, and so much more.

Here are a few questions to ponder during the working week:

• Where are you looking for your expectations to be satisfied?
• Do you think they have been misplaced in your eagerness to satisfy them?