Reflections on Patience and Contentment.
Why do most people desire to fly in the very front section of an airplane? Is it because they want to get off quickly upon arrival or because they lack the patience to sit in the very back of the plane and to get off last? No one likes to wait do they? Very few people have the patience to sit in the rear of an airplane. The benefit of getting off the plane quickly is more desirable to most people than the benefit of the serenity in the back and of having the least amount of chaos when getting off.
Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is a gift that God must give for one to truly possess a patient spirit (Galatians 5:22) . And honestly, I do not always seem to have it. But I am learning through my recent back of the plane experiences that getting off first is not always the best thing. Perhaps being first all the time in life is not always best in some ways either. “He who is first shall be last and he who is last shall be first” (Mark 10:31) . In fact, I could care less about having a window seat or sitting on the end or sitting in the front for that matter. I say this jokingly, but we all know that the greatest dislike is sitting in between two people! Perhaps someone can come up with a phobia title for that? Maybe middle-phobia? Or squeeze-a-phobia? I think the reason I like to sit in the back of the plane now is simply because I like having alone time without the hustle and bustle of getting on and getting off so quickly. I also like being able to see everyone who is on the plane. After all, I don’t mind boarding the plane last and walking down the middle while everyone gets to see me for two seconds as I pass them. They also tremble inside, as I walk by, hoping I do not sit next to them in that dreaded middle seat. They never see me again and I sit in the rear and get to watch them for the whole flight. The rear of the plane: my own little flight zone. Just me and my Savior. No hurry. No rush. Simply content.
Wisdom Walk 