Waiting and Expectation

Waiting and anticipation are part of the season of Advent and the lead up to getting those Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanza presents. They say that anticipating something fun like a vacation is a large part of the joy we get out of it. But it can also be the hardest part of life — waiting to hear test results, watching and waiting for a loved one to let go and leave this life. What happens in times of waiting that make it a rich place for spiritual insight and growth?