Friday focus

I just heard a radio interview today about how much we human beings hate waiting. But it’s so true, isn’t it? And the more technology and the more the rest of the world seems to accommodate our longing for instant fulfilment, the more we seem to adjust our expectations to remain just out of reach of what is possible.

 Just two nights ago, I tried to watch a TV show while my kids were in their rooms doing their own YouTube browsing, when I got the dreaded “pinwheel of death.” You know what I mean: that darn spinning circle that is telling you to be patient while the system you’re using tries to fulfil your request. 

After a miniature rant, it dawned on me that we were sitting in our house, trying to watch three different streaming videos all at once on one Cornish internet connection. 

Right about then, my indignation for not being instantly satisfied seemed pretty ridiculous. We were kind of set up to ask the question “But when?” if we consider the future visions the psalmist and Isaiah cast out there, weren’t we? I mean, who wouldn’t ask that after someone tells them this amazing thing will happen soon. We want to know!

 The problem with us is that once we actually have a deadline, we tend to take it as permission to slack off until more or less the last minute. So it’s not so much that Jesus is holding out on us in Matthew to be obnoxious; it’s more like he knows our nature. If the point were just to straighten up and do the right thing to avoid consequences, it would stand to reason that knowing the deadline would be really helpful. But it’s not. 

The call to right thinking and acting is simply for the sake of righteousness itself. I’m guessing it’s not unlike when I remind my daughter that there will be consequences if she makes bad choices, only to have her ask me specifics on what those consequences will be. Clearly, when she asks that, she hasn’t internalised a sense of right and wrong yet.

 I have to wonder if Jesus has a permanent palm print on his forehead like I do, from smacking myself in frustration every time I hear that question. Just do the right thing because it’s right, for crying out loud!