Just a quick thought this morning about the way a sense of "urgency" has crept into every part of our society. The recent shooting in Arizona got me thinking about the motivation of a crazed person who apparently thought that a response was so urgent to the opinions or the policies of an elected government official, a public servant, that he had to shoot someone to "share" that response! This of course is an extreme example of something I have been noticing for years...
There is a sense of urgency in our sharing of opinions! Not only do I need to share what I think, but you JUST HAVE TO HEAR IT NOW, and more so, YOU HAVE TO ACT ON IT NOW! The art of good process has gone by the wayside. This of course does not mean that opinions are not meant to be shared, but the art of compromise and patience needs to be stressed in every part of lives. This includes government decisions, and what to get at the grocery store. It needs to become part of religious discussion and social decision-making. I know that "my idea is the best one out there", but is it possible that my idea might take a while to evolve? Is it possible that national policies might take a generation to move in the right direction? Is it possible that the opinion of a crazy guy with a gun could be heard without shots fired?
We're approaching an anniversary in my area of a really bad week last year where two separate shootings left an indelible mark on a community that prides itself on being a close knit family. A sense of urgency came over two crazed individuals, and the result is that four people are dead, and the lives a few more are forever changed... One being my friend Joe. Joe hasn't had the luxury of being able to hurry up and recuperate from his gunshot wound to the head. He has spent this entire year slowly regaining his life back. And while I don't wish that for anyone, we should all pay close attention to Joe and the Congresswoman from Arizona, for they are showing the world just how long it can take before a process completes itself. No they are not better off because of the crazed sense of urgency that put them in their predicament, but they are showing us just how much courage and time it takes to meet a challenge and see it through!
My random thought is simply, don't react at things to quickly. Don't try and hurry the process of things. Allow for time and patience when dealing with decisions and movements in life.
NOW HURRY UP AND CHANGE YOUR WAYS PEOPLE, I don't have all day here!
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Patience!
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Mark 12: 17)
Happy June!
Today I am thinking about the normal, the predictable and the inevitable! Today, the June Bugs are coming, the Government is confused and all shall be well!
Just like normal, and arriving any day now, will be these brown bugs that have packed their bags to come live outside my garage door, so that they can live their happy and ridiculously short lives and die on my driveway. Their arrival and demise is just like clockwork! Life is predictable, and I have to be patient with the inevitability of the visit of these brown little bugs! Because come July, all we’ll have to deal with is 100 degree heat and Japanese Beetles!
The Government is confused as to what to do about oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. You know why they are confused? They don’t know what to do, and they are forced to wait on the people that do know what to do. Its excruciating, but it appears to be the only option! Meanwhile, there a another “war” brewing in the middle east... Its a no wonder Jesus said what he said in the quote above. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s!” It must be hard to be a government!
Finally, all shall be well... “In a manner of things, it shall be well!” (St. Julian of Norwich) Today’s readings at daily Mass offer this: “But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.” (2 Peter 3: 13-15)
We are a people of promise, hope and patience! Get ready to wait, and know that while certain things are predictable and inevitable, the outcome is always more than what you thought it would be! Oh, and let the Government be confused as to what to do about oil... And “Mr. BP”, please plug up that whole that you thought we all could benefit from (yeah right)! You and me, we need to gather the supplies the folks on the coast need, and get ready to respond by helping in the cleaning, or the buying of the pricey fish, or whatever it takes to help THEM!
Happy June!
Today I am thinking about the normal, the predictable and the inevitable! Today, the June Bugs are coming, the Government is confused and all shall be well!
Just like normal, and arriving any day now, will be these brown bugs that have packed their bags to come live outside my garage door, so that they can live their happy and ridiculously short lives and die on my driveway. Their arrival and demise is just like clockwork! Life is predictable, and I have to be patient with the inevitability of the visit of these brown little bugs! Because come July, all we’ll have to deal with is 100 degree heat and Japanese Beetles!
The Government is confused as to what to do about oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. You know why they are confused? They don’t know what to do, and they are forced to wait on the people that do know what to do. Its excruciating, but it appears to be the only option! Meanwhile, there a another “war” brewing in the middle east... Its a no wonder Jesus said what he said in the quote above. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s!” It must be hard to be a government!
Finally, all shall be well... “In a manner of things, it shall be well!” (St. Julian of Norwich) Today’s readings at daily Mass offer this: “But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.” (2 Peter 3: 13-15)
We are a people of promise, hope and patience! Get ready to wait, and know that while certain things are predictable and inevitable, the outcome is always more than what you thought it would be! Oh, and let the Government be confused as to what to do about oil... And “Mr. BP”, please plug up that whole that you thought we all could benefit from (yeah right)! You and me, we need to gather the supplies the folks on the coast need, and get ready to respond by helping in the cleaning, or the buying of the pricey fish, or whatever it takes to help THEM!
Maintain!
Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (Jude 17: 21)
As we enter this “Ordinary Time” of mission and work, we must prepare ourselves to be willing to keep preparing. To build the faith within each of us, so that The Faith can be built in our world, calls for a life of prayer, patience and persistence!
Prayer: It only takes a moment to recognize that we’re not alone, and that the Lord is with us, listening and responding to us in real time. Acknowledge Him and His presence in your life. Take time to communicate with the God who loves you! Formality has its place, and there are times when formal prayer may be necessary, but on average, a morning hello, or a recognition that those times when we “talk to ourselves” is actually the ongoing conversation with the Almighty. We are people who need to be heard (that’s the whole point of this Blog thing in society don’t ya’ think?); and we have a God who needs the same. So pray!
Patience: The solution is not always immediate. The reward is not always evident. The outcome is rarely known. “Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13), and so are we. If we’re gonna get anywhere in this life, then we need to remember that good things come to those who can wait for them. Its never been about “what you get” out of life; its about getting there, and the stuff we learn on “The Way”. So be patient!
Persistence: Actually, I just needed another “P-Word” to make this blog entry complete. Its that “three” thing. I guess the Trinity has a grip on me! So, since we’re here, living a life of prayer and patience, then we should be persistent as to what we want to see happen. If we’re about building a Church on Earth, then we must see it through! If we’re about raising a family, then we know its never perfect, and we live through the highs and the lows together! The “Parable of the Persistent Widow” offers a great example of how we need to approach this building of The Faith in the world:
Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18: 1-8)
So, pray, have patience and be persistent; and maintain your composure, for we have a Church to build!
As we enter this “Ordinary Time” of mission and work, we must prepare ourselves to be willing to keep preparing. To build the faith within each of us, so that The Faith can be built in our world, calls for a life of prayer, patience and persistence!
Prayer: It only takes a moment to recognize that we’re not alone, and that the Lord is with us, listening and responding to us in real time. Acknowledge Him and His presence in your life. Take time to communicate with the God who loves you! Formality has its place, and there are times when formal prayer may be necessary, but on average, a morning hello, or a recognition that those times when we “talk to ourselves” is actually the ongoing conversation with the Almighty. We are people who need to be heard (that’s the whole point of this Blog thing in society don’t ya’ think?); and we have a God who needs the same. So pray!
Patience: The solution is not always immediate. The reward is not always evident. The outcome is rarely known. “Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13), and so are we. If we’re gonna get anywhere in this life, then we need to remember that good things come to those who can wait for them. Its never been about “what you get” out of life; its about getting there, and the stuff we learn on “The Way”. So be patient!
Persistence: Actually, I just needed another “P-Word” to make this blog entry complete. Its that “three” thing. I guess the Trinity has a grip on me! So, since we’re here, living a life of prayer and patience, then we should be persistent as to what we want to see happen. If we’re about building a Church on Earth, then we must see it through! If we’re about raising a family, then we know its never perfect, and we live through the highs and the lows together! The “Parable of the Persistent Widow” offers a great example of how we need to approach this building of The Faith in the world:
Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18: 1-8)
So, pray, have patience and be persistent; and maintain your composure, for we have a Church to build!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)