How long can one wait to see God ?

திருநாவுக்கரசர் தேவாரம் தலம் பொது திருவிருத்தம் நான்காம் திருமுறை திருச்சிற்றம்பலம் சிவனெனும் நாமம் தனக்கே உடைய செம்மேனி எம்மான் அவன் எனை ஆட்கொண்டு அளித்திடுமாகில் அவன்றனை யான் பவனெனும் நாமம் பிடித்துத் திரிந்து பன்னாள் அழைத்தால் இவன் எனைப் பன்னாள் அழைப்பு ஒழியான் என்று எதிர்படுமே. திருச்சிற்றம்பலம் thirun^Avukkaracar thEvAram thalam common thiruviruththam n^AnkAm thirumuRai thiruchchiRRambalam civanenum n^Amam thanakkE uDaiya cemmEni emmAn avan enai ATkoNDu aLiththiDumAkil avanRanai yAn bavanenum n^Amam piDiththuth thirun^thu pannAL azaiththAl ivan enaip pannAL azaippu oziyAn enRu edhirpaDumE. thiruchchiRRambalam Meaning: My Lord - Perfection Embodied, Who owns the name "shiva" for Himself, if He enslaves and shows grace on me, (and) if I catch hold of Him with the name "bhava" and keep calling him for a long time (persistently - many days), It would come in front (of me) saying, "This fellow does not leave Me out, calling for a long time." Notes: 1. The Supreme is the one Who owns the name shiva. Anybody else even if addressed shiva to mean auspicious, it is mainly because of what is possessed. But the Supreme is hailed as shiva on Its own account and not because of anything else. 2. There are two components to realize the Eternal Bliss of Lord shiva. God should shower the grace providing the token of acceptance and there should be the continuous and persistent effort from the side of the soul in seeking the God. Both the components are required to complete the protocol. c.f. avanaruLAlE avan thAL vaNaN^gi - thiruvAcakam 3. appar highly emphasizes the need to stay focussed and persistant even if it takes long long time (may be multiple births together), in realizing that Supreme state. 4. The sentence, "ivan enaip pannAL azaippoziyAn", very nicely rhymes with the meaning. 5. aLiththiDal - showing grace; bavan - one of the names of Lord shiva (bhava - the Source).