James 5:7-10

“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.” vs. 7

In our instant gratification world patience has become a vanishing virtue. We are less and less inclined to endure any amount of waiting…and companies are catching on. We now can get same day delivery of any number of items, and internet connections are virtually instantaneous. And now that the bar for immediacy has been set, any kind of delay is intolerable. Who waits for marriage anymore? We don’t even like to wait for Christmas. Most people jump on the holiday bandwagon the day after Thanksgiving…and many can’t even wait until then. Shopping gets done, decorations go up, Christmas songs hit the airwaves…and poor little old Advent gets squeezed without pity. Who can even imagine a season devoted to waiting patiently? James says we can learn a lesson from farmers, ones who knew that crops can’t be rushed. Some things, maybe even the most worthwhile things, just take time. When we slow down life stops being a blur and we can see and appreciate the beauty and the gifts God provides in everyday living. Don’t worry, time will pass…what we’re waiting for will come…and in the meantime why not just enjoy the present?

Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to be impatient?