The Now and the Not Yet - St. Patrick's day musing

Being children of this age and western culture, most of us have difficulty with the concept of waiting. Fast Food is one of the biggest industries in the world. Precooked, prepackaged, "instant" meals are becoming the norm in many households - including pre-made, store-bought sandwiches and precooked bacon! Time and again I see drivers honking at cars that (heaven forbid) slow down in front of them so that they can safely turn into a parking lot or side street.

When it comes to results - whatever they represent - we want them now, with little investment. "Lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks, with no effort and at this low, low cost!"

Unfortunately, this spills over into our spiritual life as well.

When we set out to develop spiritual discipline with the goal of growing in our faith, we tend to think that we should see results quickly. We think that to attain "maturity" the process has finite parameters, and too often believe we have arrived, when in reality we've only just begun. Along with the "having arrived" mentality, we may also gain a sense of entitlement. We expect that whatever goals we have before us will be easily and quickly reached. We believe that, since God has placed within us a passion, gifting or vision, that all we need do is reach out a take hold of it.

I speak from experience here. I am one who can all too easily "grow weary in well-doing".

What helps me in those times is to look to others who have gone before as examples. Moses, for instance, was given a vision to rescue his people out of slavery and take them to a new homeland. When he finally had the guts to fulfill the vision he had to spend the next 40 years wandering the countryside with those he was leading, before they were allowed to settle in the promised land. Then there's Noah who spent the better part of 100 years building a huge boat nowhere near water because God had told him to do so. Shortly after he finished his little backyard project, God flooded the earth.

Finally, I'd like to tell you about Patrick. As a teenager, he was captured from his home in England and sold into slavery in Ireland, where he remained, tending sheep for several years. During that time, he developed a strong deep faith in God. God gave him a vision to escape by walking 200 miles overland to find a particular boat that would take him away from his captors. Through all that, God placed a love for the people of Ireland deep within Patrick and he found himself with a strong desire to return to the land that was once his prison to share about the freedom found in Jesus Christ. He was granted that opportunity when he was in his mid-40s and began his work, along with many others, to spread the Good News throughout this pagan nation. We don't know how much Patrick was able to enjoy the fruits of his labors, but we do know that within the next couple of generations after Patrick's death, Ireland became known as a Christian nation and remained that way for the next 1400 years or so.

Remember - God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways. (see Isaiah 55:6)

Thus, his timing is not always our timing and his goals our goals.

If we have a vision, a passion, a goal that God has given us, we need to believe that it will happen. And if it takes longer than expected, realize that there are reasons - and they are in large part to benefit us in our growth as his children. It's in the journey that God does his best work in us, not in reaching the goal or attaining the prize.