Growing up, my two oldest kids had it really good when it came to Disney World.

Between my dad and several close friends working in the parks, we had multiple ways of getting into the theme parks all year round.  My only regret is that I wish we’d taken them up on the offers to enjoy the parks even more!

One of the things Disney does so well is they get you having fun the moment you drive through the gate – literally the moment you step out of the car.  For my kids, the parking trams themselves were just as fun as any ride we’d find inside the park.  While we’ve taken hundreds of those tram rides throughout the parks, one of them stands out above the rest. 

Picture this: A family is frantically making their way to the tram.  Dad’s got kids and strollers scooped up in both arms.  Mom is juggling multiple bags and other park gear.  They’re not sprinting, but they’re as close to running as they can come without dropping something – or someone!  Even though another tram can’t be more than five minutes away, they are wildly making their way to the tram as if their lives depended upon it. 

Exhausted from their frenzied trek, they made it to the tram and thrust themselves into row ahead of us.  Barely a few seconds later, with the couple still gasping for breath after their frenzied run, the man looked at his wife and in a loud, angry voice said, “What are they waiting for?  Come on, let’s go!”

At first, I thought he was joking, but it became very apparent that he was not.  In fact, not only was he not joking, he was actually quite angry.  After just racing to the tram themselves, hoping against hope that they’d make it before the loading of passengers closed, they were furious that we continued to wait and take on more guests who were also hurrying to the tram.

Again, he sounded off, “Come on, let’s go!” 

As much as I wanted to give this guy a piece of my mind on behalf of the underpaid Disney staff doing their very best to make this the ‘happiest place on earth,’ I kept my thoughts to myself.  This turned out to be quite wise as no sooner than the thought of calling this guy out for his impatience crossed my mind, I sensed the Holy Spirit stirring conviction within my heart.

Slowly the conviction settled into my mind: How many times have I been like that with God?

How many times have I asked God for help, for clarity, for direction, or for strength, been given those very things, and then turned around and refused to offer others the very things I’d received from God?  This man had been given time to make the tram, but once he was on board, he had no desire to offer those still hustling towards the tram the same opportunity he himself had been given.  How many times had I received grace and mercy and patience from God and then been completely unwilling to extend those very gifts towards others?

We live in a day and age when more and more people seem to find it more and more difficult to be patient with each other, and yet, the commands of scripture require something very different from God’s people:

Love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4)

    Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

         Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near (James 5:8)

              Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12)

While our culture may increasingly treat personal preference as one of our highest virtues, the scriptures continue to remind us that patience, not our personal preferences, is a virtue that reflects God’s heart and character in the world.  You see, we’re not called to be patient simply because patience is good, though it is. We’re called to demonstrate patience because God is patient. 

1 John 4:16 teaches us that God is love while 1 Corinthians 13:4 reminds us that love is patient.  God is love and love is patient, therefore God is patient.  As true as all this is, the scriptures take the reality of God’s presence even further. 

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

God requires patience from us because He is patient toward us, and at some point, we must come to recognize that the world will never see our loving, patient God through impatient people.  We can’t preach Jesus, then live and act as impatiently as the world around us, and expect our proclamation to have much credibility.

As we preach Jesus, we must practice patience.

I have no idea why the guy on that tram was so heated.  Maybe he was having a tough morning.  Maybe they were late to an appointment or reservation.  Maybe he’s just one mean, angry dude.  I don’t know, and frankly, I’m not sure I need to know.  Because what I do know is this: God has been incredibly patient with me and He’s incredibly patient with all of us.  I can’t know if the world will see Jesus through our patience.  I can’t be sure they’ll necessarily connect those dots and see His face, but I feel fairly certain they have a much better chance of seeing Him through patience than impatience. 

There are more than enough people yelling from the trams of life these days – let’s offer the world something different.  Let’s offer them Christ.

Maybe angry-tram-yelling guy was on to something after all: What are they waiting for?  Come on, let’s go!

Let’s go, church.  Let’s go.