In other, more familiar words, love is patient. Our modern culture is constantly cheapening the meaning of those qualities we hold so dear: honor, courage, selflessness, love. Self-seeking, impulsive behavior is accepted and even glamorized. Graciousness is portrayed as archaic, and the multifaceted, beautiful nature of love is reduced to mere romantic attraction. Love between friends or family is often considered unexciting or uninteresting. And romantic love is reduced to a selfish emotion, often synonymous with lust, lacking any kind of sacrifice, nurturing, or patience. Ah yes, patience. That is a virtue almost lost in our culture all by itself. But patience in love is a concept almost as alien as . . . aliens! (and there goes my string of good metaphors)
In society in general, and even in much of "Christian society," the concept of love as patient is remarkably uncommon. Browsing books on the subject in Barnes & Noble or Berean, the volume of "find the one for you NOW!" self-help books is astounding, whereas comparatively little can be found on surrendering your life--including your romantic life--entirely to God. As is reflected by the dating lifestyle so rampant today, love has been turned into a "feeling on demand," to be indulged whenever one is inclined, by whomever best fills the need at the time. The beautiful dream of one love for life and the desire to wait for God's perfect timing in bringing that about has become little more than a fairytale. In today's self-serve/fast-service dominated world, matters must be taken into one's own hands if they're to happen how and when one wants.
Sure, we may seek God's will in career choices, college questions, or other weighty matters. But we seem unwilling to seek God, to surrender to God, in matters of the heart. Like babies with candy, we are remarkably unwilling to hand it over to our parents to wait for the perfect time to enjoy it. Love is kind, unselfish, forgiving, never jealous, always faithful . . . and patient. And part of that patience is trusting everything, including the schedule, to God.
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