Most of us take our own time to get to where we need to be. Some are more punctual than others which means, obviously, that some are slower whilst others more prompt and faster than others. Prompt, time conscious people, can often be out of patience with those who take their time, and rather laid back in their attitude to life and living. They are often unwilling to WAIT, and just run on ahead to do their thing, regardless of others, their happiness, well being, or peace of mind.
THIS IMPATIENCE is often the cause of a kind of selfishness that pushes others out of the way in order to make quicker progress and satisfaction for themselves...... I can't wait, I have not the time; I have other things to do, appointments to keep - excuse me (or more often we just push) and instead of WAITING in the queue we barge and shove our way to the front. When I first arrived in Kenya in 1968 it was something I noticed first (with loathing) that when I joined a queue (say to buy stamps at the post office, or some other shop) I would actually be beckoned to the front in order not to wait - NOT because I was old ( I was then just 28) or crippled or ill, but because I was WHITE. I was at times even 'manhandled' to that 'front' under protest. I could not understand it, and could not approve of it. I asked myself, HOW could a FREE Kenya still bow to colour? How could she need to bow to anyone or anything over and above her own citizens. Politeness is good, but it is NOT good when ONLY applied to a particular section of society, EXCLUSIVE of all others; THEN it can become odious! I felt offended on behalf of the REST of the people in the queue. I would react in the same way wherever I am. I was always taught to 'Wait your turn' and to do so patiently and meekly. It can be tiresome and even annoying BUT to show the proper care and protection of each others expectations it should be done.
I have seen people fight and even injure each other due to 'queue jumping' as it is called.
Regretfully quite a number of white people were the culprits, as well as the African citizen They also found waiting to receive parcels and other goods through the usual channels time consuming, and would 'oil' the procedure with a few shillings (a bribe) to speed things up. Bribery is another outworking of refusal to WAIT our turn. I have heard people in these latter days more and more say that 'you get nowhere without a bribe." That is SO sad. Of course it is going two ways. The one to impatiently do away with waiting for due process, and the other to make due process longer in order to be offered a 'bribe' to speed things up. Evil upon evil encouraging more evil. My own attitude to this is that I would rather do without the 'parcel' the 'favour' than pay out any INDUCEMENT other than the legal charge in order to receive.
But I am anxious not to stray to far from where I began. In the New Testament of the Bible in the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians chapter 11 v21 Paul criticises the Church saying 'For as you eat, each of you goes ahead, without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk.'
Paul is specifically talking about how they celebrate the Lord's Supper. It is difficult to say whether he sees people coming in late whilst others coming before are already eating and drinking - even to excess~ or whether they may have all sat down together, but not been served at the same time so that some have to WAIT whilst others are already eating. Either way he finds it offensive and uncaring. In the Amplified Bible v.21 says 'For in eating each one (hurries) to get his supper first..'
and then finally in v33 he says 'So my brethren, when you gather together to eat (the Lord's Supper) WAIT FOR ONE ANOTHER.' So that, no doubt, they can be seen to act as one family, one body, one brotherhood together. This was apparently far from the image created on such occasions when, instead, everyone seems to have struggled noisily for themselves, even greedily and without regard to others. No sign of CARE, or consideration for another - just get, and swallow, as much and as fast as one could. No matter if others remain hungry, and no matter if in the process you yourself disgrace yourself in eating and drinking too much - all in front of God. Yet it was at a time when God was supposed to be uppermost in their minds. So much for the Christian Church in Paul's day! Is it any better two thousand years later - and not merely in the observation of Communion or Breaking of Bread, but in all the other facets of living in love of one another; in the care of each other? Where is the 'watcfulness toward one another to note each others need? Where, the patient attitude that will WAIT for one to 'catch up' to where you are.? We all need to be loving, caring fathers and elder brothers and sisters toward those younger and growing up behind us.
IN PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS he opens his heart differently but in a similar frame of mind when he writes and says to the Christians there -
BRETHREN, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort,
you who are spiritual (who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit)
should set him right, and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority
and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
BEAR, (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults,
and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (The Messiah)
and complete what is lacking (in your obedience to it)
FOR, if any person thinks himself to be somebody (too important to condescend
to shoulder another's load)
then he is nobody (of superiority except in his own estimation),
he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.
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