Impatience

   We are an impatient people.  We want what we want and we want it now.  We go to fast food restaurants and still complain about slow service.  We want computers that instantly respond to our keystrokes.  We want our cars to go faster so we can get to our destination quicker.  Speed limits are simply a suggestion.

   The same applies in our work life.  The boss wants the problem solved yesterday and tomorrow is too late.  We expect promotions and raises as a matter of course and quickly regardless of our efforts.  Emails are expected to be responded to within minutes of hitting the send button.

   We can’t even slow down for fun.  We load everyone into the car and drive as fast as we can to the theme park.  We rush into the park; run between rides and complain because we must wait our turn.  We grab a quick lunch, gulp it down and head back out for more of the chaos we call fun.  We wonder why our children are in a hurry for everything when they are simply following our example.

   Worst of all, we let our impatience affect our faith life.  We pray and expect God to answer immediately.  He is supposed to be quick about it and give us exactly what we asked for.  If not, we question His existence and His love for us.  We forget that God knows what we need and it may not be what we think we need.  We also forget that sometimes the answer to our prayer may be “not yet” or even “no”.

   We get up on Sunday, rush to get dressed for church; pull into the parking lot with barely minutes to spare and curse because close parking places are taken.  We run into the church and complain because we can’t sit in “our” pew.  We are frustrated if the sermon goes longer than we think it should.  Then we rush out the door as soon as possible, many times before the service is complete.

   It isn’t supposed to be this way.  We are frustrated, angry and always in a hurry when we should be at peace.  But peace isn’t something that can be rushed.  We must take the time to put ourselves at peace; not only with ourselves but with God.  If we don’t, our lives will remain in chaos and we will never truly enjoy life and the joy of God’s presence.

   Slow down.  Take a break to spend time with God.  Our faith can’t be rushed, it must be carefully and slowly nurtured.  In this way we can come to know the serenity and peace of God.

   “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.”  (2 Peter 3: 8)