Love is patient.
God is patient.
I am impatient.
There is something wrong with this picture.
I cannot find in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) "Blessed are those who hurry." Nor can I find anywhere in Jesus teachings, "hurry up." In fact what I do find is "be still."
Impatience hurts. Our impatience can damage a relationship, wound a child, and blocks our own growth. Often we hurt most those closest to us,. Stop and think about who you might have hurt in your haste.
Patience is the doorway to growth and strength. I used to have an office in Basking Ridge, NJ. Outside my window was a magnificent Oak Tree, Its trunk was huge and its limbs reached across the church. I asked some folks about it. It is over 400 years old. Think of the history it has seen. Think also of God's patience in the growing that tree... its limbs are strong, its roots are deep.
When I am patient (my grandkids remind me often how impatient I am) I am amazed at the creativity, the possibilities, the connections, and the love that emerges. |