Patience

"Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord." James 5:7

Okay, I know I missed posting yesterday! I truly meant to, but I was working on a bible study and had just finished it, when all thoughts of blogging went out of my head! Sorry if you logged on and had to read "leftover fruitcake."

The author of James makes an analogy between us waiting for Jesus and a farmer "waiting" on a crop. One can assume this means Farmer is patient, knowing what the seeds need in time, water, and fertilizer in order to sprout.

I can't wrap my head around that--not being a gardener or farmer, and just a so-so houseplanter. When I think of needing patience, I think pizza. Order a pizza or cook a frozen one--no matter-- it takes 20 minutes for it to be ready. Longest 20 minutes ever for me!

But try and get it sooner? Doesn't work. Take-out would be too raw-doughy. And all you get is a pizza with a frozen center if you take it out of the oven too soon! A good pizza needs time. Time to make and time to bake. But the waiting I do is eager, anticipatory, Pavlovian. I can hardly wait.

To be patient and not jump the gun, I wait in a certain way. I set the timer to keep me aware. I get out some plates. Pour a glass of cold milk (yes, I know that's odd), and I get a napkin ready (cause pizza is messy stuff). I sniff the air for a whiff of fresh baked crust and melting mozzarella. I check the oven, or hop in the car and zoom over to the pizza parlor. I know these things have to happen before the pie is ready, and I know that's how to act to be ready.

In the same way, we wait patiently for the Lord by (as the letter of James reminds us) not grumbling at each other, strengthening our hearts (with worship, bible reading, practicing a spiritual discipline), and persevering in the face of adversity--like the prophets. That's how we act to be ready. That's patience.

How can we be patient? I can be patient waiting for pizza because I know it will be done. We can wait for Jesus, not only because Christmas will come 25th guaranteed, but because God has promised Jesus will come again. And that is as sure as the pizza being done. No--surer!

Lord God, give us the strength we need to wait patiently for the coming of the Christ. Amen