One thing that I have never been great at is something called patience. I think I am a man of preference; a man who enjoys instant gratification. Maybe you have found more of a handle on being slow-to-go or cool as a cucumber when it comes to gleefully waiting for something desired to unfold. By the way who ever came up with the term cool as a cucumber? I guess it came from the same creative person who coined the phrase hotter than a firecracker on the fourth of July.
One of my favorite quotes comes from a guy I never met or know very little about. Quite frankly all I know is the man was a famous writer. So famous I picked up just one remarkable 10 word mental resource. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, "One thing at a time and all things in succession." I have always liked the part of all things in succession. It’s that one thing at a time thing that has always driven me crazy. Does anyone relate to me out there?
In truthfulness I have fallen in love with the idea of patience. The reason has not come very easily though. The reason has come by way of have to. You know the like it or lump it route that most everyone has to travel a time or two. Did I say time or two? I meant time. Times two. No! No! Wait a minute I have confused myself here--I meant time plus too many times to count.
I think you get the picture.
Yeah my ole friend patience has been the most difficult friendship of my life. Yet, a very necessary one I might add. Even the Bible jumps on the patience bandwagon by saying, "Let patience have her perfect work..." So patience is a her. Well that should explain all the problems that have come with patience over my lifetime. If patience is a her and her is a she, then there has to be a proverbial case of wisdom in the middle of all this somewhere. Like her being a gender thing and not being able to figure out women. Is this why I never have been able to figure out patience? I guess so since patience is a her. I know I am rambling mercilessly here.
Let me just move on and separate my ramblings by adding a little common sense. The Bible really does say, "Let patience have her perfect work." The context looks like this.
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
A few things I have learned in the middle of my life experiences is that it does me no good to stress about trying to reach a goal in 7 days if it has to be a month process. Or to spend all nighters trying to get ahead of the pack while missing out on a peaceful nights sleep. Then there is the challenge of taking no thought for tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of it self. I have a new friend that reminds me weekly--No worries!
I guess I am living proof that old dogs can learn new tricks. Now don't think I have grown too soft on this patience or should I say impatient thing. I still have my Burger King moments. You the know the ones-- where I want it my way right away. I just know that I save myself a whole lot of grief when I sign an agreement with patience. When I sign on the dotted line I convince myself that it’s one thing at a time and all things in succession. Its here that I will have it no other way. Then again what choice do I have? Oh and by the way what choice do you have?