Chapter 9
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” \u2013 Isaiah 40:31<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Standing in line is a universal experience, but let\u2019s be honest\u2014whether you\u2019re queuing at the municipal office, or trying to board a train, there\u2019s always that one person who thinks the rules don\u2019t apply to them. They slither in, trying to cut the line, and suddenly, you\u2019re channeling your inner serpent, hissing under your breath, \u201cExcuse me, I might just get hiss-terical!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While in Bern, the evening commute on the BLS double-decker trains offers a delightful\u2014if chaotic\u2014change of rhythm. Forget orderly lines; here, it\u2019s a full-blown free-for-all. Passengers push, shove, and squeeze through the wide doors as if they\u2019re in a high-stakes race for the last seat, particularly upstairs. Some might find this spectacle hiss-terical (pun very much intended), but in Bern, it’s just part of the evening’s routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let\u2019s take a step back and consider the serpentine nature of it all. In the Old Testament, the serpent is the ultimate trickster\u2014crafty, slippery, and downright deceptive. tempting Eve with forbidden fruit and earning itself a lifetime of belly-crawling and dust-eating as punishment. Yet, even in its downfall, the serpent teaches us a lesson: be wise, but don\u2019t lose your innocence. As Jesus famously told His disciples, \u201cBe as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, let\u2019s talk about the word itself. In German, the word for the queue, \u201cSchlange,\u201d means both \u201csnake\u201d and \u201cline.\u201d It\u2019s a linguistic double that perfectly captures the essence of waiting: slow, winding, and occasionally venomous. But there’s no such overlap in English, French, or Italian. Imagine telling a British friend, \u201cWe were in a long \u2018snake\u2019 waiting for the evening train home at the station in Bern.\u201d They\u2019d probably give you a puzzled look and say, \u201cYou mean that’s how you guys feel when you stand in a queue?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of queues, I recently stumbled upon a delightful passage about the cultural nuances of standing in line. It pointed out that in Czech, \u201cst\u00e1t ve front\u011b\u201d (to stand in line) evokes images of a disciplined battle formation. Meanwhile, the German \u201cSchlange\u201d feels more like an invitation to push, shove, and slither your way to the front. It\u2019s a subtle difference, but one that speaks volumes about our collective patience\u2014or lack thereof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, I\u2019ve learned to embrace the chaos. Whether at the supermarket, town departments, or the train station, I\u2019ve accepted that I\u2019ll inevitably end up in the slowest-moving line. Instead of stressing, I\u2019ve adopted a cheerful fatalism. I\u2019ve come to see waiting as a metaphor for life itself. The longer the line, the more time I have to reflect, people-watch, or mutter an iconic phrase under my breath: \u201cWos stengans do olle on, die Trottln?\u201d (\u201cWhat are all these fools standing around for?\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, the next time you find yourself in a hiss-terical situation\u2014whether it\u2019s a serpentine queue, a chaotic train platform remember: life is a waiting game. And sometimes, the best thing you can do is channel your inner serpent, stay wise, and maybe hiss a little. After all, we\u2019re all just global fools trying to navigate this winding, unpredictable line called existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” \u2013 Psalm 27:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I just have a train to catch. Wish me luck so I have no need to get hysterical and leave out the hiss-terical feeling. (big smile)
Wishing a great start to this new week!
Philemon <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Chapter 9 “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” \u2013 Isaiah 40:31 Standing in line is a universal experience, but let\u2019s be honest\u2014whether you\u2019re queuing at the municipal office, or … <\/p>\n