Passionate Patience

Lately, I've been reflecting a lot on the word perseverance.  When I shut my eyes and think of this word, I clearly see my grandparents faces.  A little tired, worn, aged and yet beautiful.  Their faces reflecting the lessons, hardships, joys and yearnings of all the things that once were and of those that were not.  Every wrinkle tells a story.  Every age spot holds within in it a memory that will not likely be forgotten. On one hand it makes me sad, and on the other hand it encourages me to press on towards the years that wait before me.


This is perseverance.


I am so often amazed by the unfaltering grace that is shown by the weaving together of God's plan in our lives.  In fact, it does not surprise me at all that one of my most cherished group of verses while growing up was Romans 5:1-11, and more specifically verses 3 + 4.


     ' Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. ' 


I had no idea what was in store for my life, as is with most people.  In fact, if anything...my life was going to be perfect and everything was going to unfold exactly how I had imagined.  Maybe a little hiccup here or there...but all in all, the story would unfold and the smiles would come easy.  I would say that most of us grow up with this sort of thinking.  We see other's going through hardships....such as facing cancer, losing a loved one in an unexpected accident, or bearing a child with severe disabilities...and for some reason we think it won't happen to us.  It's not that we aren't aware that it could happen to us...but instead we truly feel that it won't.   And...then it does.  It is that moment when the unexpected intercepts the dream and we have to make a choice.  We either quit or we push forward.  We let death or the thoughts of death envelope us, or we face our suffering head on and invite perseverance to be our personal companion down the long, lonely road ahead.


It's easy to fight a battle if you KNOW that you will win.  It's a whole different ball game to persevere when you are unsure if there will ever be a reward for your efforts.  You see, the above verse states that the reward IS hope.  But hope does not always mean that you are going to get what you want.  Hope is a state of mind...it is a way of being.  You cannot place conditions on hope. It is something that grows within you...with time...like peace.


I think the translation from The Message (Romans 5:3-5) explains it best...


"There's more to come:  We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.  In alert expectance such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged.  Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our life through the Holy Spirit! "


Now...when I look in the mirror...I'm starting to see wrinkles...and that makes me smile.

Posted in: Mel's Thoughts