Patience and Faith
by Carolyn Lindsey
It was during the first week of March 2020 when the Lawton M. Chiles Center for Florida History under the directorship of Dr. James Denham had scheduled a lecture at FSC by Professor Douglas Brinkley, the prominent presidential historian from Rice University. I was very enthused and hopeful that the plans for a post lecture supper would be enjoyable and that everything would proceed accordingly. Not far from that thought, I noticed the phone ringing with a message from Dr. Denham relaying that the lecture had been cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air travel from Texas. Having worked with Delta Airlines upon graduation from FSC, I understood how flights could be cancelled. While I was quite disappointed with this turn of events, I could never have imagined the feelings that would result from the emergency with which the world would be forced to contend and how patience and faith would play on the world stage of this historic moment. This letter hopes to explain the Biblical connection between patience and faith as well as to describe the role letter-writing serves not only as my favorite mode of communication but, more importantly, the all-importance of the impact the “Letters of Apostle Paul” had on the Galatians, the Corinthians, and many other followers of Jesus Christ. Returning to March 2020, I recall my emotions of disappointment over the cancellation rapidly skipped on to a feeling of isolation and sorrow over the inescapable change that everyone would experience going forward: the whisper of lockdowns, mandates, the passing of many of one’s friends and family members, and, of course, the financial blow that would assume some place in the still small voice of humankind. Reading on preparedness during this time of isolation preoccupied my time, yet daily moments of quiet reflection on my blessings along with the remarkable sermons offered by our Pastors helped me so much. Speaking of their own sentiments of the challenge of change facing their own families as well as our congregation, their care and expression of the wisdom of following God’s lead with patience and faith offered such hope—FUMC provided a dwelling place for our hearts to begin to heal. Even though I recognized the level of patience that our church leaders were revealing, I became uncomfortable with the impatience I was feeling and displaying. Recognizing that patience was not my strongest asset, and even though I am not a Biblical scholar, I took a dive into the “Letters of Apostle Paul” where I initially found mention of the terms patience and faith as Paul wrote letters to communities who were experiencing challenges in their daily lives.
Because patience and faith are stated among the “Fruits of the Spirit” referred to in Galatians 5:22-23 (The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Augmented Third Edition, 318), I am reminded: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit” Galatians 5:25 (318). In the October 10, 2021 sermon, Rev. Taylor notes that patience reveals the quality of “endurance, persistence, a time of activity while waiting” (Taylor, Sermon). The sermon continues: “Seek God and pray; do something in the positive in the waiting” (Taylor, Sermon). As I read and re-read the Letters of Paul to the Romans, the Corinthians, as well as to Peter and Timothy, it became clear how frequently the image of patience and faith was found in these passages. In I Thessalonians 5:12-24, Paul appeals to those followers living in northern Greece to warn those who are idle, encourage the timid or frail, and be “patient with all of them” (344). Subsequently, in scripture 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4, despite persecution and suffering of the followers, Paul gave thanks to God for these people because their “faith [was] growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of [them] for one another [was] increasing” (346). To these Biblical passages, I add the reminder offered by Rev. McEntire before we departed from the November 7, 2021 service: “We are called to leave the darkness of ourselves, and [accept] hope, love, and wholeness” (McEntire, Sermon). In consideration of the numerous letters the Apostle Paul penned to the historic communities, one can glean the impact these remarkable letters had and how letter-writing is a very personal and enduring form of communication. Just as the historic followers of Christianity read, shared, and re-read the words of Apostle Paul, you and I return to letters we have received and have written to recall intimate conversations. Finally, as Advent commences and memories of the birth of Jesus Christ surface in song, Christmas cards, and conversation, may I send my wishes for Joy and Peace in this Christmas Season.
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