"Despite being one of the fruits of the Spirit, patience isn't something we discuss often. I've been doing a lot of thinking about patience recently, and I've found it to have far-reaching implications for our happiness, our definition of success, even our relationship with God. Proverbs 15:18 tells us that "a hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel." An impatient person is quick to react, often without full understanding, imposing the certainty of his or her view while still being ignorant of reality. A patient person fosters peace by remaining calm and taking time to figure out what's really happening in a given situation. A community that has no peae, whose members are constantly on the defensive- or the offensive- because they are impatient and react without thinking will not continue to grow together. They will always reserve, hold back, so as not to cause a fight. Or they'll get so angry that one day they simply walk away. In 2 Timothy, Paul writes, 'Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction.' Spiritual growth doesn't happen overnight. Fallen people don't always respond immediately to correction or advice. Patience with others when they don't act as quickly as we would like results in spiritual growth, for them...and for us...over the long-term. A community that doesn't grow, well, it's nearly pointless. It may be fun, which is good, but one of the central purposes of Christian community is that we continue to spur each other on to become more like Christ. It's a long process. We can't give up on one another. I know I often get fed up with people when they're not where I'd like them to be, but then, I'm not where I'd like to be either: How patient are you?" Good word. Lord help us to have that fruit fully!- Stu
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