Patience.... They Say Is A Virtue

I have heard that patience is a virtue and all I have to say (or pray) is "Lord help me and help me right now!"

This past week I was traveling someplace and I had both of the boys with me. I just happened to get behind a really poky person. I know that most of you will be surprised but I became very impatient. I began to groan and complain and say things like "Oh, come on. I don't have all day" and "Get out of my way!" Suddenly a little (3) year old boy in the back seat chirped up and asked "Whatz wong daddy?" I explained to this little bundle of questions that there was people in my way. Then out of the blue a little boy began yelling "Get out of my daddy's way people!!!!"

Oooops!!!!

You see I hate when people are poky and don't meet my expectations. Just ask my wife and kids...they would tell you that my patience is very short. I hate for things to slow me down or interupt my plans. Do you want to know what sends me over the edge...being late or thinking that I will be late. Now for the most part I think that I am an easy person....with the exception for those little interruptions in life.

And then it happened..........

This weekend we went to the Mark Lowery concert. It has been a long time since I have laughed as hard as I laughed that night. I think that I made an idiot of myself several times. You know that when you draw the attention of people several rows away with your laughter that there is a problem.

Then it happened right there in that large auditorium. God spoke to me in one of the most powerful ways. It was one of those times when you are sure that there must be horns and whistles going off and everyone in the crowd knows that what was just said was for you. It was like I was hit with a ton of bricks. It was like that moment in time was for no one else but for me. "What was it" you might be asking yourself.

Mark was talking about how he had traveled with the Gaither Vocal Band for years. He told how one day he asked Gloria Gaither what God had been showing her recently. Gloria told Mark that God was showing her that more often we can find God in the interruptions of our life more than He can be found in our plans. Mark said that Gloria went on to tell of a time when her son was about (4) years old and she was doing dishes. He said that Gloria told him that she was so focused and just wanted to get the dished done. The little boy began to beg her to come with him...he wanted to show her something. Finally, she said that she relented and followed her little boy outside all the while just wanting to finish the dishes. As she followed her little boy he lead her outside and there before her was the most beautiful sunset that she had ever seen in her life. Gloria went on to say that the thought struck her that she almost missed sharing the most beautiful sunset with her (4) year old little boy for some dirty dishes. She was interupted and what a wonderful blessing God had for her.

Wow!!!!

This began to make me stop and think about the interruptions in my own personal life. How often has God just been trying to get my attention because I had left him out of my plans? How many times have I missed God and God's lessons because even in the interruptions I don't take the time to learn what God is trying to teach and show me? How do I view the interruptions in my life... annoying, nuisances or just plan obstacles? I guess right there in the middle of that auditorium I saw that I to often have classified God's interruptions as annoying, as nusiance and as obstacles. God forgive me for my lack of patience when all you were trying to do is to teach me to know you.

I challenge you to look this next week at your life or those in the Bible who experienced some interuptions. Is it just an annoying moment in time or is it God trying to talk and teach you something special....just for you?

Will I still get frustrated at poky drivers...you bet. Will it send me over the edge when I think I am late...most definitely. Yet I think that I just might stop for the moment and think "Lord, what are you trying to show me." I know that I did not do justice to this post and explaining what God is trying to teach me. I hope that some how God can take these meager words and use them to help you see that the interruptions of life are some of our greatest moments and blessings.