The forecasts started a week before the “event.” Snow “accumulation” across the southeast of the US – a terrifying prospect for people who normally only see a light snow a couple of times each winter season – was coming in ferocious power. The rumored intensity of the coming storm was matched by the intensity of people dashing to and fro, attempting to meet the last-minute needs they anticipated before they were potentially deprived of something precious to them. What brought it all into focus was when I encountered a woman in a tiny, crowded hardware store some 60 miles from where she started, looking for a small propane heater. Desperate, demanding, and impatient, many of these folks worked against an unseen clock to protect themselves from the terrible loss. Loss? Loss of what?
Their modern conveniences – things like electricity, access to entertainment, and “good” food. It appeared that many feared even a few minutes without heat, water, artificial light, and freedom to go where they want, when they want, as fast as they want. We love our conveniences, and losing them is apparently a serious threat. It seems we are almost bound by them, to take advantage of them very moment, and missing any time is tantamount to disaster.
Having been born in the snowy Midwest, I enjoy the interruption winter weather brings to our busy life, although down here in the South, it’s not the same. There isn’t the same willingness to head outside and enjoy whatever cold and snowy weather is out there. Too hot? Not so bad. “Too cold” and snowy? Not a chance.
It’s not just winter weather, either. And it’s not just in the South. I’ve noticed serious irritation at even small inconveniences, like the person talking through the kiosk at a fast-food restaurant too long. And don’t let the home air conditioner fail for a day or two. Everyone will hear about it, especially if it’s hot out. And how long could we survive without our cell phones? Even if it’s an old-style flip phone, we all know that moment of panic when we realize that we don’t know where it is…
To put this in perspective, the NACS estimates that we Americans spend some $550,000,000,000 (that’s BILLION) annually at so-called convenience stores. You know, those places where we spend $2.59 for a bottle of water we could purchase at a grocery store for less than a buck? It’s all about convenience. As I started to think about it, I was amazed. Then, I wondered, what does God think about convenience?
The Bible doesn’t speak to convenience, specifically, that I know of. It does speak to inconvenience, though. For example, James encourages us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2) Wait! What? When I encounter inconvenience, I should count it pure joy???!!! That’s most certainly not the advice I would offer to that woman in the hardware store. She would either hit me with her space heater or laugh me to scorn!
Many of us act like we have the right to be angry and frustrated at inconvenience, but the Lord tells us we can act another way. We can rejoice! Why? James continues, “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (Jas. 1:3). Paul reminds us of similar results in Romans 5:3-5. Most certainly, both of those writers were speaking of things far more serious than a snow storm. They were primarily talking about persecution. However, if we practice what James advises in the little trials, how much more will we be able to count it pure joy when we encounter far more serious sufferings! Our crazy life offers us multiple opportunities every day to find joy, if your days are anything like mine. If we count it pure joy every time we are inconvenienced, how much more joy will we have? Who doesn’t want more joy?
I’m finding that there’s freedom in that view. I guess we usually find what we’re looking for, so when we look for joy in our trials, we are no longer under the tyranny of the convenient! It’s time to count it all joy when the weather folks tell us it’s going to snow on us! Imagine how that will look to the folks who are frantically trying to find that last loaf of bread at the local convenience store. They might even ask us why we’re not so harried…
If you’re not into taking advice from the Bible, that’s okay. Just remember you have a choice about how you respond the next time you miss a convenience. It will change your day.