Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly (Prov 14:29).

I observed a display of folly in the hospital parking garage yesterday afternoon.

As I was leaving the hospital about 4:45 I was shocked by the unending stream of cars inching along, bumper to bumper. to the exit. Only one frustrated driver expressed his feelings now and then by giving a long blast of his horn. What did he expect? That all the other drivers would move out of the way to let him pass? No, I think it was simply a way to let off the steam that was surely building in each of us.

Still, no fights broke out. There were no fender benders. Everyone appeared to be handling the situation as if it were no big deal.

So where was this display of folly that I observed?

It was in my own car. My impatient self was fuming and anxiously looking for an escape. I wanted out of there, and I wanted out now!

A white sedan was parked on my right side and a large pick-up truck was on my left. The woman in the sedan rolled her windows partway down and settled back for a little snooze. Next time I looked her windows were up and she was on her phone with a content smile on her face.

The empty pick-up was my problem. It stuck out so far that no one in the queue would see me backing out in time to let me into the flow.

I called Tom. No answer. I checked my email and Facebook, listened to a podcast. I tried Tom again. Still no answer. Samuel called, and I gave my son a play-by-play of the event, including several complaints.

Random thoughts filled my mind: Could it be that the entire parking garage was emptying out? Why? Was this an emergency preparedness drill that I had not seen announced? Oh, those poor folks in the Florida Keys who have only one route to safety when a hurricane lashes at their coasts. Can we all survive the exhaust fumes in this place?

In hindsight…

In hindsight the cause of my angst was what had happened before I got into my car in the parking garage. My afternoon had been quite busy yet I squeezed in a quick trip to the hospital for some lab work.  I’d arrived with only a few minutes to get my bloodwork done before the lab closed. But I was directed to the wrong lab. By the time the error was discovered, the lab I needed was closed. I’ll have to return tomorrow for my labs.

I had plenty of time in my car, waiting for my opportunity to join the cavalcade of cars, to settle my heart on Jesus. I focused on a huge truck keeping me from what I wanted when I could have asked myself, like the psalmist did: Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 43:5).

Instead I allowed my impatience to lead me to folly.

The Word on patience

Patience is listed as part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives (Gal 5:22-23). I wish I’d remembered that.

Among my favorite Scriptures is Paul ‘s instruction to  the Christians in Rome: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Rom 12:12). I had never thought about how that would look in a parking garage!

I’ll be going back to the hospital this afternoon for that lab work, much earlier than I went yesterday. This time I’ll trust the Lord to give me grace and patience.

And I’ll have a driver—Tom—who will drop me off at the door and find street parking. No parking garage for us today!

Ginger