It’s Friday and Five Minute Friday time!

You know the drill. We get our weekly prompt, let the spirit flow for five minutes, post, link up in the Community section at fiveminutefriday.com and — best part — visit other writers to support and encourage them.

For the past few months, I have also been sharing testimonials from fellow writers as outlined in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat, compiled by Susan Shipe. This week, I’ll share some words from Ruthie’s heart.

“Five Minute Friday taught me the importance of blogger community. The suspense of the ‘word’ from Kate, receiving the word and hammering away for five precious minutes (I never knew five minutes could be so short), sharing and reading the creativity of other bloggers, affirming and receiving affirmation, all comprise this wonderful family of five minute Friday-ers. These dear souls accept, love, support, and pray for one another in true fellowship and community. I don’t always get to participate but when I do, it’s like walking into a room full of old friends.”

Amen!

With that, the timer has been set so it’s time to tackle this week’s prompt — PATIENT. GO …

I like to think I’m a patient person. I try to not speak in haste or anger {not always successful}, but think things through. Some feel it’s a weakness because my nostrils don’t flail at injustice.

That may be true, but there are some things that rankle my bones. I have little tolerance for those who parrot talking points — be it life in general or politics or religion. I lose patience with those who don’t think for themselves, who follow blindly, who believe not because of their own passion, but because they were led there.

It’s a flaw. I know. It is one area of my life where I am not patient.

I mention this on this Good Friday because I was sort of transported to the final week of Jesus’ life last night as rest battled with reality. And I was dismayed. I’m not sure how I would have reacted. I … STOP

… doubt I would have been among the crowd who laid down the palms. I would probably be researching who this Jesus was during the week. I probably wouldn’t have found my way to Skull Hill. But I do think I would have ventured to the empty tomb, probably more out of curiosity than anything else.

If I was  part of the apostolic circle, I probably would have been more like Thomas, with a little bit of Peter thrown in. I say this because, while I have the passion of Peter, it is often tempered by my doubts.

I think God is pretty patient as well. He wants us to come to Him. He doesn’t want platitudes. He doesn’t want our words. He wants our heart and soul. He wants us to think, to reason and willfully know He is God … loving, forgiving, in control.

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: When someone does something wrong, don’t forget all the things they did right.