Our "Instant Info" Society Breeds Impatience

Tonight's Craft post dealt with having patience in explaining the difference between crocheting (which uses one hook) and knitting (which uses two needles).

After I posted it, I realized that it applies to all aspects of our lives today. We've become an "instant info" society because of the technology boom. We expect instant answers and we expect everyone to know everything. This isn't realistic. It also requires us to be more patient with each other.

I have a friend, a guy, who is mechanically gifted with cars. However, he expects all guys to be similarly gifted. His attitude is that a guy is not a guy if he can't change his own tire or add oil when it's needed. I've explained until I'm blue in the face that he can't expect every man to have the same talents or skills that he has.

I'm blessed with knowing the difference between a spark plug and a shock absorber but that's because I grew up, in my teens, in the 50s, when all the boys I knew were into hot rods. But I do not expect every gal my age to be the same.

Still, in today's world. we expect everyone to be able to yank out their smart phone, hit a few buttons, and get immediate details on anything and everything.

The result is that we are becoming experts at specific details but we lose the ability to communicate with each other by learning how to share and explain a concept or detail.

This is sad, isn't it? I know so many folks who text each other when they are actually in speaking distance of each other. They have lost the patience required to talk.

Another instance I ran into recently involved a friend who is older than I am. I had driven him somewhere and on the way back, we stopped so he could get money orders at a service station convenience store. There wasn't another customer in site, and I could see that from where I sat inside my car, watching him inside. When he came out, he was upset. The clerk saw him fumbling with the currency in his hands and took the money from him and counted it. Now, to me, this was very wrong. He had no right to take that money from that man's hands. He was impatient to complete the transaction, yet no other customers were waiting, so there was no problem. I thought about the days when I am "all thumbs" and how upset I would be if someone did that to me.

And it's all because we have become an "instant" society.

Dearest Lord Jesus, you walked this earth, you know our strengths and weaknesses. Please help me, at least, to avoid becoming like so many others today. Fill me with the patience I need, when I need it, and as often as I need it. And fill me with the patience I need to deal with others who are impatient with me.