There’s an old joke – probably as old as people ordering something and waiting for it to arrive.
An example would be ordering a salad at a restaurant, and waiting for it to be served. If it takes a long time – especially if the restaurant is not very busy – someone at the table might say
“I guess they’re still growing the lettuce!”
At one of the restaurants we visit, broccoli was no longer available. It was on the menu, but they didn’t have it. It turns out their broccoli supplier was affected by a recent broccoli recall, and they were not going to have broccoli “for some time.”
One time we were told that
“A new supplier has been located and the broccoli is being planted now.”
I guess they’re still growing the broccoli.
Let’s go to God in prayer.
God of wisdom, may the words that I speak, and the ways they are received by each of our hearts and minds, to help us to continue to grow into the people, and the church, that you have dreamed us to be.
Amen.
Life is impatient.
Plants take in sun, water, and carbon dioxide when it’s available.
Animals eat when there is food.
This is particularly true for very young animals. Baby birds have to be fed nearly continuously. Baby humans cry for food in the night.
They’re not patient.
This morning we were woken by one of our cats at about 5:30 in the morning, probably demanding food.
They had food, but they also know that they get fresh food in the morning, and one of them decided it was time.
She was not patient about it.
But life learns patience.
Wild predators – especially ambush predators – learn to wait for the right prey to appear, and in the right place where the attack is likely to succeed. Impulsive predators often go hungry.
Life wants things now, but learns to wait for when things are available.
Our Epistle reading from James speaks about a farmer waiting for the precious crop – perhaps broccoli – and being patient with it. A lot of life takes time.
Sometimes there are things we can do to encourage the change we’re hoping for.
A farmer may fertilize the crop, and may protect it from animals that might prematurely harvest the crop. But the farmer still has to wait. Growth takes time.
In times of trouble, we can prepare for the time for which we hope. We can also do some things to nurture the growth needed for change. But we have to accept that change will not be immediate.
At this restaurant Mary and I frequent, the usual sides are mashed potatoes and broccoli. I always got two servings of broccoli and no potatoes – at least when they had broccoli.
I couldn’t force them to bring me broccoli they didn’t have.
I could have abandoned the restaurant until they had broccoli, but if enough of us did so, the restaurant might close. Then I would never get my broccoli.
I had to support the restaurant that was working on getting the broccoli, even if they didn’t have it yet.
Likewise we have to support those people and institutions
that are doing the work that will bring forth the good fruit.
Of course I’m talking about the church. The church does help people prepare for the good we’re hoping for.
But I’m also talking about social and political institutions that work for peace through justice. Supporting those institutions helps move us to the world we hope for.
But we will have to be patient.
James tells us to strengthen our hearts, and to not grumble against one another.
It can be difficult to wait. We are not born patient. But patience can be learned if we practice it.
My challenge to all of us this week is to practice patience.
We can lean on our faith to support us. We can draw on our hope to lead us forward. And while we wait, we can support those people and institutions that are helping to bring forth the future for which we hope.
Amen.
Let’s sing CH 566 Be Still my Soul
* Scripture quotations marked NRSVue are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. https://www.friendshippress.org/pages/about-the-nrsvue
* Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James version of the Bible.
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