Taking the Time

Journal for Christa—

While walking this evening, I was reflecting on how very impatient is our nature. I have a student in AP who wants to meet over lunch. She’s so anxious to write an 8-9 timed writing right now. If I could tell someone over lunch how to do that, I’d publish it, get rich, and quit grading those timed writings each week. I’ve learned from teaching many years that writing at that level comes slowly. She may or may not ever write an 8-9 paper, but I’m fairly certain it won’t happen this week or even the next. But writing this week and the next will make her better—closer to her desire.

I also teach a class titled “The Making of a Godly Woman.” It sounds like such a fun class—but the reality of it is—when I talk too long about how to do more in-depth Bible study, many of the girls lose interest. Yet, there are so many things in life that don’t come with a quick fix. The very quality of it demands time—and often, much of it.

Years ago I used to sew, and I was pretty good at it. I would carefully measure the pattern to the straight-of-the-grain, meticulously cut out each piece, and sew each pinned piece, pressing open every seam. I never sewed very fast, but I did sew well.

Yet, I clearly see in myself that same impatience—I too desire depth with a cursory reading of Scripture. From right living to fulfilling relationships, I want it now. It isn’t that I don’t want to work at it; I just have that grand ol' American feeling that if I work hard, it’s my right that it will come fast. Because of that, I wonder how often we give up too soon—on a paper, on a godly life, on the things we truly desire.

My friend Beth told me once she’d seen an old couple waltzing and it was beautiful. You can’t waltz beautifully when you’re old unless you’ve been waltzing a long time. Some things are worth working hard at for a very, very long time.

So, take heart—keep writing, keep reading, keep waltzing—