…let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” – James 1:4
Have you ever been running late and then find yourself hitting every red light along the way? I remember a time when out of frustration I decided that if the car in front of me tried to run the yellow light, I would too. Low and behold, the car sped through the intersection and I quickly followed after. I couldn’t even wipe that smile off my face before I heard sirens behind me.
As I pulled over to let the police officer pass by, I was surprised that he stopped behind my car. Still not having a clue, I said to the very serious looking officer “Good morning and how are you”. Although he didn’t return my enthusiasm, he did humor me with “You didn’t play follow the leader right!” I believe my intelligent answer was, “huh?” The officer proceeded to tell me that my back wheels had not cleared the line before the light turned red and that I would be cited for running a red light. I, a crazy grandma, had one more brilliant comment, “Oh, I knew that it wasn’t polite, but I didn’t think it was against the law.” I think I stumped the unstoppable officer, although I didn’t mean too. After he ran my plates, or my license, or whatever else they do in the secret of their police car he came back and said questioningly, “Ma’am, is it correct that you have never had a ticket?” Again, I had a brilliant answer… “Why yes, sir, I had a ticket back in 1968!” I am batting a thousand here as he then commented, “That was nearly 40 years ago, what was the ticket for?” “Speeding, sir!”
I have found that when I run too fast through life I miss out on what life is all about. I don’t take the time to learn the lessons along the way. I didn’t grow; I missed out on the “green”. It’s like I was in such a hurry to get there when I didn’t even know where there is. All of this was from my own immaturity, so it makes sense to me that maturity does take a lifetime. Sometimes the things that slow me down are God’s way of protecting me from me. It has taken me a lifetime to really know that the world does not revolve around me. I am a slow learner as my story above confirms.
In all fairness, it did take me a lifetime to develop all of my old habits. In fact, it took me so long that the habits seemed quite normal. I was impatiently stuck in the “yellow”. I had to humbly admit my mistakes and then be willing to let God remold new habits within me. Developing new habits does not happen overnight; it takes time and it’s only through constant repetition that these new habits become normal. Slowing myself down, making the time for prayer, spending time in the Word, fellowshipping at church, calling someone just to say I care are all ways that I have found helped me to develop new habits. As I strengthen these new habits I am moving ahead to the “green”. Green represents mature growth – I am growing in the Lord!
Just because we cannot see the face of God, as He is working in and through us, it doesn’t mean that we don’t feel His presence as He walks by! My prayer, “Lord Jesus, when I get discouraged help me to see how far I have come, not how far I have to go. I thank you that you will continue to move me closer to the “green” and that you will never give up on me. You will complete the work in me that you started!” Amen
Oh, in case you were wondering, I did get a ticket that day and after $365 dollars later, I became very careful about waiting for the green!
