A soothing voice comes from the glowing iPad, “Please listen until the end before answering.”
The impatient first grader doesn’t wait. “Tap, tap, tap.” He sounds like a young woodpecker trying to drill through the screen.
I frown, from a few chairs away, knowing the stakes are high. “Smack.” That’s the sound of my palm softly hitting my forehead.
The student is taking an early literacy test, one that will indicate whether he’s a non-reader, emergent reader, or early reader. It’s important that his teacher knows his true potential; and, if he answers too quickly, she may not.
Sometimes, God gives me directions, as well. And, before He even finishes, I’m tapping my favorite answer. I wonder, does the Lord smack Himself on the forehead when His children don’t listen? I doubt it. He knew we were gonna do that.
I once bragged to my older brother, a mechanical engineer, about the do-it-yourself prowess of my nephew, his son. “Careful,” he said. “He’s often wrong, but never in doubt.”
In contrast, my Scottish blogger friend, Alan Kearns, talks about coaching novice players at the local chess club. Many of them are too quick to make their next move. So, he tells them, “Sit on your hands.”
Kind reader, perhaps the solution to being spiritually wrong, but never in doubt, is to sit on our hands.
Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
Thank you for reading. prayers and love.
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