This is the first part of a 2 part series by Graham Brenna. He can be found blogging at GBrenna.com.
That’s right! There is no patience on the internet.
The internet is one large call to action. You won’t find a link online that says, “it’s okay if you don’t click this link” except for this one, (okay be honest… you clicked it didn’t you?). Think about it though for a minute. Everything you see online is telling you to ACT NOW! Not tomorrow… not the next day… NOW!
We have become an culture based around instant gratification. We use social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Blogs to get connected NOW. Therefore I submit (and am knowingly not the first person to do so) that many of the same principles applied to marketing and communication on the internet can and should be utilized in ministry.
If you’re in a church uses print media as its main form of communication you know that takes time to adopt social media as an additional tool for communicating. This is a big change for a lot of churches.
One of the biggest resistances to change is the worry of what people will think. However in ministry we know this great truth that if you trust in God… it’ll all work out! We preach that all the time! In fact, just recently, one of my pastors, Pastor Mark Borgetti, preached on this very topic:
He told the story of a man who impressed a crowd at Niagara Falls by crossing on a tight-rope. He did other neat tricks and eventually asked the crowd if there were any volunteers to sit in a wheelbarrow as he pushed it across the rope. Many of the people were nervous to jump in the wheelbarrow. I’m gonna be honest… I probably wouldn’t have done it. Surprisingly enough though, one person DID volunteer! Think of the kind of faith this volunteer must have had in the tight-rope walker! Whoa… reflect on that for a moment!
The wheelbarrow I’m afraid to jump in is patience. Why are we so afraid of patience?
[Image by: Will Lion Used by permission via Creative Commons]
Josh Wagner says
Patience requires faith which requires you to give up control. It's the control thing. We like controlling our lives. It's the hardest thing we have to give up.
Graham Brenna says
Good point! That's sorta along the lines of my next blog post… "It's All About Me"
ldemoss says
Just an fyi that the first link in the post is a dead one.
Graham Brenna says
Yeah… John will have to fix that… It's supposed to link back to this post. The permalink got changed when John fixed my spelling 3rror. 🙂
human3rror says
fixed.
Phillip Gibb says
I know why I am afraid of patience.
I prefer to make the effort that I know will reap benefits.
patience can mean a lot of effort over a lot of time b4 you realize that it is unsuccessful
that and the fact that we are so used to instant success, we are not used to waiting.
but you know, the inherit thing about strategy is patience; setting out a deliberate plan and nurturing it thru the steps that will ultimately (over time) bring about your goal/vision
but that is scary
Graham Brenna says
Good insight!
Jim says
it takes patience, but a lot of board meetings and previews etc. to get things going.
Graham Brenna says
Ah yes… board meetings. [shudders] 🙂
Ancoti says
Why no patience, probably pride has something to do with it. We will not wait on God, what makes anyone think we will wait for each other either?
Graham Brenna says
we have to wait for each other because we're all flawed. God isn't flawed… just my thoughts.
Ancoti says
Great point Graham. But oh, we surely do not want to!
Janelle says
It's wild to think of God's patience– the patience over thousands of years for us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling." The prophets didn't "cure" things, even Jesus didn't "fix" things during his lifetime. God is patient in her creation bringing in the kin-dom. It's just amazing that God would choose a "plan" that required so much of her patience when she has the power to do it in the snap of her fingers. I know I treasure having friends and family who are patient with me, so I sure try to have patience with them!
Guy Walker says
Patience- giving God time to work things out in your favour
Graham Brenna says
Well said! way to really take it home!
Graham Brenna says
Patience – being patient with God because he totally knows what we need. Even if we don't think so.