Patience is one of those virtues that has been more of a theoretical reality in my life, save for experiences growing as a Christian.
'Christian' may be interpreted these days as a relevant term... On the surface, its a term that may be used to describe a school of beliefs to some, a group of mere practices to others, or some acceptable combination of these two to yet others. A notable condition to describe about the state of Christianity ... to be able to identify a clean separation between the labeled religion and the experience of knowing God. The two do not absolutely go together 2000 years after the coming, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Knowing God (as the Christian I am) means experiencing Him as God -- as all knowing and just as He described Himself to us, incarnate in Jesus. Jesus described God as a Father. He cares like a Father, He is The Father to His children. When I say I am a Christian, it is the description of a life of this experience, one personally learning of Him Who is the One true God , by experiencing it.
In my growing walk as a believer in Christ, I've come to know that He is always ready and able to reach us... And, reaching ... is for teaching.
In the Bible, Jesus taught with parables.
When I read Gospel parables, I understand them as relevant in multi-dimensional ways.
Jesus selectively formed His teachings with semantically relevant language, to speak directly to the hearts of those in the time and place before Him ... In the richness that storytelling provides, the meanings yet grab hold of us and blossom in their meanings thousands of years later.
Recently, He's been reaching me about Patience.
I describe the things about my experience as a believer in Christ to draw out the fact that the recent reaching is simply that experience of experiencing God as a Father. He knows how to reach one in the most minutely detailed places ... that you're sure no one sees but you. It's a sure testament to the fact that you're seen and cared for in a world packed full with billions of people.
This page space is indeed for detailing the stories that matter in no less than 2020, just as I shared in my intro post. As detailed in the intro, I believe these stories include the moments where the best of humanity has shined through during this historical year, shined in all the ways that times of crisis present special opportunity to show character and virtue.
These moments all around me are like little parables being told in my own life.
I describe Patience as notably theoretical in my experience, save for the parable moments. I have heard about patience, I know what it looks like ... But, what of identifying the opportunities to Be it? All around, 'high-speed' seems to be synonymous with the ideal of victorious advance. Futuristic visionaries saw a year like 2020 as advanced by defining an idealistic swifter culture -- like having instantaneous travel and an array of technologies that would make life most 'efficient'. Where does the time and place for Patience hold fast to witness her virtue?
Well, much of 2020 has been an excellent exercise in Patience .. and for identifying all those who have this virtue stored up in their treasure chests. They have been my teachers ... Explaining my walk as a Christian is deeply appropriate here because it shines a light on the fact that God can speak to you, reach you personally however He feels. I look at all the Patience being practiced in those nooks and crannies this year and
God has been saying to me, 'Look here... this is how.'
And, this is God as a Father -- you're never past learn something He has to teach you.
So, two of those parable moments were packed within just this week. It's Monday guys : ) ...
I notice a whole lot when I'm driving on the road. Maybe because I draw some delight for looking out for those parable moments. There's hardly anything like what you can notice while driving. People are in their own little worlds and their character values become evident in split-second decisions. It's interesting just how many techniques I've seen for changing lanes ... Turn blinker on, get over when it's clear ... Turn blinker on and change lanes simultaneously ..
Ok, so I know to look out for parable moments when I'm on the road because I like to stay close to God when I'm driving. He helps me to interpret what I'm actually driving through.
That being said, something really, really simple reached deep on Patience while I was driving this week. While driving along an east and west flowing road, I slowed and stationed at a red light at the front of one lane while cars in the neighboring lanes did the same. To my left was a left turning lane in front of a light which allows the turning lane only to proceed onto a south/north road with a green arrow before the east and west receive their green light again. If you've ever seen one of these kinds of turning lanes, they're likely in place because they're needed to be able to turn from one busy main road onto another and doing so on the turning light is the best opportunity to do so safely.
Likewise, if you're in one of these busy turning lanes, you're likely going to be waiting minutes for the next turning light to turn if you don't make it through when the turning light is green. As the turning light in the lane to the left of me changed to green, I remained stationary at the red light for my lane and wondered why the person to the left of me had not taken the green light in front of them. Being at the front of the lane, I could see there was no reason except that they were likely daydreaming or distracted -- the road was clear and they were at the front of the lane.
Given the reasonable time to gather that they were likely daydreaming through the green light, I suspected that the vehicles behind that daydreamer may have had time to observe the same as I did.
There was an additional set of seconds where I also gathered that the driver may miss the green light all together, for themselves and everyone in the turning lane waiting behind them. Then I waited for someone to honk their horn ... and not one person did.
Like I stated before, it seems really, really simple. But, I was amazed.
It was not a coincidence that I was in that lane and had a front row seat for a lesson on Patience.
And, I savor the wonder of it. I savor the reality that met me in those few little minutes. Patience is alive and well, and I discovered her on a busy road on a bright sunny day in Iowa.
Only a day later, I was on the phone on hold with the benefits office for my area to check on an update. When I called in, I was nicely informed by the automated system that there were 170 people waiting in the que. I waited, and not very long. A man connected with the call to assist me, answering my questions about the update I'd called in to ask about. I knew he was probably answering the same question for me as he may innumerable times that day for others. Yet, with a treasure of effort he reached out with what I heard in his voice was sincere effort at communicating what he felt was the best advice of the call. Not routinely, he spoke to me, 'The best thing to do is to be patient.'
He said it more than once, each time as though letting me in on a secret treasure. And, I took it to heart, especially after the call. A man with perhaps many reasons to reflect the same impatience as may have been coming at him from those calling in to the benefits office yet took the time to reassure me with the best he had. God helped me to discern it, and I consider it a treasure from Him. I write these things with a central story to share on this blog space... And, that is to communicate what I've been discerning through this season. Virtue can never be taken for granted. It comes from somewhere Divine, it is a Strength.
This season, Patience is the treasure being placed into my hands like a beautiful precious stone. It rests in small, unsuspecting gestures without a search of reward. It makes the world around me beautiful, like a rose bush growing in a bed of rocks.
God bless the Patient.
Reference
Gospel of John, Holy Bible
