What do Walmart, Chick-fil-A, and a U.S. Post Office share in common? I’ll answer that in just a moment. But, first, another question.
How do you get better at something? The answer is: practice!
If you want to raise your free throw percentage in basketball, you stay in the gym and put up shot after shot from the foul line; stay loose, regulate your breathing, feet squared to the basket, flex your knees, fluid stroke, follow through, and repeat. If you want to have more confidence in your golf swing and lower your score on the course, you go to the driving range and hit a large bucket of balls, and perhaps another. Proficiency in playing a musical instrument works the same way. Just wishing you were better or watching other people play isn’t enough. You’ve got to get in on the action yourself and learn by doing; on-the-job training is essential if you want to improve. Practice!
There is one sense of the word “practice” which simply indicates something that is carried out or performed habitually, as in someone who “practices kindness” or “practices hospitality”; this meaning also extends to activities that are done professionally, like “practicing medicine” or “practicing law.” But, the secondary sense of the verb means “to perform or work at something repeatedly so as to become proficient; to train by repeated exercises.”
Several months ago, in a lesson on the subject of patience, I sought to challenge myself and others to consider ways in which we could actively grow in this particular grace and fruit of the Spirit. I wasn’t discussing the kind of patience (hupomone) that is more accurately translated “endurance” or “perseverance” in tribulation, but the patience (makrothumia) that describes how we “wait” for the Lord’s coming and how the farmer “waits” for the rain (James 5:8).
I found myself using the phrase “practice patience” to describe how we should respond in situations in which we have no recourse but to wait, waiting on “God’s own time” or a change in circumstances that are beyond our control. I was using “practice” in the first sense noted two paragraphs above. But, what if we shifted the emphasis to the second sense of the term and actually practiced patience. I ad-libbed at this point in the message (always dangerous for me) and threw out the idea that I just might need to go somewhere for no other purpose than waiting in line so that I could have more “practice” at being patient.
I finally got around to doing some follow-up on that concept the other day. I decided to use my lunch hour to practice patience. My first stop was Walmart. I really didn’t need to buy anything, but I grabbed a couple of rather inexpensive items that I could use eventually, then selected the longest check-out line in which to wait. May I remind you that it is two weeks before Christmas; finding long lines at Walmart is not too much of a challenge at this time of year. Next stop, the Chick-fil-A drive-thru lane around 12:30. More excellent practice! I had planned to skip my noon meal that day, but decided to reward my wait with a yogurt parfait. The last exercise station in my “patience workout” was at the post office. I did mention that it’s a couple of weeks before Christmas, didn’t I?
What did I accomplish while I was waiting? Several things, actually. I realized how frequently I’m in a hurry. I pondered what it is about waiting that drives me nuts, along with a lot of other normally reasonable people. So, I missed the traffic light; so, my line at the grocery store always seems to move the slowest; so, it’s 30 minutes past my appointment time and I’m still in the aptly named waiting room at the doctor’s office. Should that really cause my blood pressure to rise, my tone to become snarky, and my countenance to fall?
Having blogged recently about the promise of God’s presence in us and around us in this world, I consciously thought about the fact that God was with me at Walmart, at Chick-fil-A, and standing in line with me at the post office. I considered that everyone in line ahead of me and those who were working behind the counter were all created in His image, each and every one of them loved by Him unconditionally. How many of these people had Christ living in their hearts? How many were seeking Him? How many should have been seeking Him, but weren’t? When I finally made it up to the counter, I asked the pleasant postal worker for a book of Christmas stamps. We ended up having a brief, but incredibly enjoyable, conversation about my choice of stamps. She enthusiastically concurred with my selection. I left with a smile on my face.
A waste of time? Not for me. Within just a few hours, I had a dramatic “reality check” that reminded me how much more practice I need in being patient.
“To perform or work at something repeatedly so as to become proficient; to train by repeated exercises.”
Practice kindness. Practice hospitality. Practice patience.
10 comments
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December 13, 2012 at 7:50 am
John Wells
Uh, Tim. You could have gone to Quiktrip and got your stamps quicker, :)maybe.
December 13, 2012 at 8:28 am
Tim Pyles
Ha! I hadn’t considered QuikTrip; good to know they carry stamps. Of course, their efficient customer care and speedy check-out would have completely blown my intention of waiting. I would have had to repeatedly get back in line, which may have resulted in a call to security!
December 13, 2012 at 8:16 am
Drue Wright
Good Morning, My husband preached on patience last Sunday. I was reminded by his sermon and now your article that I’m good at it at times and then at other times I fail miserably! You don’t know me personally, but I’ll tell you now I’m rather weird. I actually enjoy being in lines at places like Wal-Mart and the post office. I usually strike up converations with others in the line and instead of complaining about the line I try to find out as much about them as possible. Once I even learned that a man was on the way to the hospital to sit with his little granddaughter who was deathly ill. I asked if he minded if my husband and I prayed for her and also put her on our prayer list at church. He responded that he would appreciate it so much as he wiped away a tear. Lines are interesting! BTW, do you mind if I use this in our bulletin this week? Thanks and have a fantastic rest of the week, Drue
December 13, 2012 at 8:37 am
Tim Pyles
Drue, I wish that so many more of us were as “weird” as you! You are the kind of person that the rest of us hope we end up standing by in lines. You sound so much like my Dad in your ability to connect and converse with others regardless of the setting or circumstances. Thanks for letting Christ’s light shine through you in reaching out to the loving grandfather and praying for his granddaughter. And, yes, I would be honored if you wanted to share this post in your bulletin! God bless!
December 13, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Gloria
Hi Tim I will get Dave to read your Blog. We get in a line at the grocery store and he complains every other one is shorter. It is not as if we don’t have time to stand there. What else would we do . We are retired. Season Greetings to you and your family from all of us Down Under. Lots of Love.Glor and Dave.
December 13, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Tim Pyles
Gloria, you will have to assure Dave that I had no knowledge of his habit before writing the blog post! Great to hear from you. Hard to believe that my first Australian Christmas with you and the others in Gympie was 27 years ago. Wonderful memories. Richest blessings and a joyous Christmas to you, Dave, Alister, Amber and their families.
December 14, 2012 at 7:39 am
Jim mettenbrink
Recently I read an article that `set forth that patience is the control of impatience. Interesting thought! Indeed patience is the control of our own selfishness, “I want it now!”
On occasion a fellow preacher will call expressing his discouragement about the congregation or leadership. I asked him to recite 2 Tim 4:2. The response is “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort…” My response is “and”??? Silence shouts! So I remind the often all but forgotten ending, “…with all patience and teaching.” Simply preach the word, following the commands in the passage, especially ensconce the preaching with patience, Let God bring about the spiritual growth. Keep the faith.
December 14, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Tim Pyles
Thanks for your comment, Jim, and thanks for the reminder of the vital presence of patience in the equation of 2 Tim. 4:2.
December 17, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Jay Bearden
Tim, the shortest line always moves the slowest so always try that one to test your patience. Wishing you, Kim, Hannah and Coleman a wonderful Christmas.
December 17, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Tim Pyles
Thanks for the tip, Jay! I may try that one during my next “patience practice” session. Great to hear from you. Merry Christmas to you, Maxine, Tonya, and Travis!