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April 27, 2010
At Once
Jesus said, “If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.” (John 13.32)
Okay, okay, I needed an exercise in delayed gratification. Impatience is one of my flaws. I get it.
But enough, already. Enough rain, no matter how many “May flowers” come next. Enough delays in subway travel as budget cutbacks take effect. Enough slowness in building a new ministry – my team needs results now.
Speaking of results, let's get a move on with losing weight in time for my son's wedding in June. Let's turn the next financial corner today.
In other words, I resonate with Jesus' “at once.” Even if it's inconceivable that a Jewish Messiah used the convoluted Greek sentence structure of John 13.32, I can imagine him saying, “at once.”
For in addition to everything else, Jesus was the patron saint of the impatient. I can't recall an instance where his counsel was “take it slow,” “easy does it,” “don't get ahead of people,” “Rome wasn't built in a day,” “good things take time,” or any of the slowdown tools that people use to justify inaction.
Words associated with Jesus are the “immediately” of Mark's narrative, John's “at once,” the “three days” of his Passion, sending forth disciples without three years of seminary, responding to needs without three-hour leadership meetings or 12-month budget cycles.
If the clouds say “storm,” be prepared. If the master has arrived, close the doors. If Jesus is passing by, “get up” and go to him.
 The entire ministry of Jesus probably lasted no more than one year. He never stayed in one place for long. He moved, he acted, he listened intently, he spoke urgently.
It seems odd, then, that we make such a strong case for being patient. Defenders praise the Pope for “thinking in centuries.” Denominations think in terms of three-year convention cycles. We wait years before telling a congregation it needs to do the self-sacrificial work of growing and serving, or else. We leave destructive leaders in place way too long.
Tolerance is good, but this isn't tolerance, It's conflict-avoidance and task-avoidance. When faced with the unwanted or difficult, many people delay it to death.
I understand why. “At once” means accountability. It means results, not intentions. It means people's welfare is on the line. “At once” means having to make choices and not pleasing everyone.
Faith leads to action. Faith isn't an attitude or set of beliefs. Faith is doing something, helping someone, saying the prayer, going off to meditate, standing tall against injustice, submitting to another person's needs.
Just as Jesus never stayed long in one place, faith keeps moving. For life keeps moving, and God keeps moving.
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