One of the most difficult things we struggle with is waiting. Having the patience to allow things to take their natural course without trying to force and speed things up is a major lesson to learn.

So often we emotionally commit ourselves to a particular timetable and outcome. We use our very best rational thought, we make good, sound choices and decisions until we think we have conjured up a sensible course of action with a desirable, though realistic, goal which we then dedicate our hearts and minds to.

But then things don’t work to plan. We don’t really understand it and it defies rationality and logic - because we did everything possible to make it a good and reasonable plan. Yet something is awry and all our planning seems to be out the window and there is little we can do to get the whole project back on track. Initially we become impatient, and then anxiety sets in.

If I’ve learned anything in this life, it is that we never have any control over timing. It is as if the Universe has its own sense of time and it rarely looks anything like ours. In fact the two are about as alike as the proverbial chalk and cheese.

And one thing we need to understand about Divine timing is that it is intractable. Unlike human timing, there is absolutely nothing we can do to manipulate it, force it or hurry it along. It is what it is, and the more we fight it the more nothing changes except our own state of mind - usually from peace to panic to panic attack! The only thing we can do is relax and let go.

About 18 years ago we moved to Sydney and were looking to buy a house. I found one that we thought had huge potential. It was less than our budget because it needed some renovation and I was confident that we would be well within any reasonable price range at auction.

What I didn’t allow for was another bidder who wanted that house, and only that house. We ended up in a bidding war - something I swore I would never do - until I finally came to my senses and backed down. I was so disappointed. I never saw being the underbidder as a possible outcome. It was a huge blow.

In the meantime a friend suggested I look in an area closer to the harbor. I hadn’t looked there because I assumed it would be too expensive for us. But I took the advice and started my search. I found a house that we ultimately bought, at a price within our budget, but only because the vendors had had two failed auctions and was unable to sell at the higher price they initially sought. If I had found the house only a couple of months previously it would have been too expensive.

Of the six houses I’ve lived in, it turned out to be my favorite house of all. My bedroom had what the real estate agents like to call “harbor glimpses,” something I never thought I would ever be able to afford. The house pretty much ticked all of my top ten requirements that I wanted in a house, and anyone who has bought a house knows that things are good if you can get the top five!

And it was all because of (Divine) timing.

Eileen McBride
Eileen McBride is the author of Love Equals Power 2, a spiritual seeker and teacher. This article was published on February 13, 2012.