Stick-to-itiveness

The usual translations, put it something like this:

But the fruit of the Spirit is...

love, 
joy, 
peace,
patience, 
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness, 
gentleness
and self-control.


The Message Paraphrase speaks forth Galatians 5:22-23 
like this (parentheticals added):


But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like...

affection for others (love), 
exuberance about life (joy), 
serenity (peace). 
We develop a willingness to stick with things (patience), 
a sense of compassion in the heart (kindness), 
and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people (goodness). 
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments (faithfulness), 
not needing to force our way in life (gentleness), 
able to marshal and direct our energies wisely (self-control).


You gotta love Eugene Peterson and his way with words.
Especially when it comes to the 
know-it-like-the-back-of-my-hand scripture passages. 
He breathes new life into them, it seems. 
He transforms a rote list of Spirit-fruits into a holy longing for a life I want to live.

For today, as I contemplate a season of Lenten sacrifice, 
it's patience that raps on my heart's door for entrance.
To endure this time of self-denial, 
to find stamina to love Someone more than I love myself, 
I must, as Mr. Peterson so aptly puts it, 
develop a willingness to stick with things.

Patience.
Long suffering.
Endurance.
Forbearance.
Tenacity.
Perseverance.
Resolution.
Stick-to-itiveness.

After all, this patience fruit, is a gift that blossoms if I let it.
So Lent becomes a time to allow 
God's Spirit 
to do God's work 
in God's child 
as I seek to live God's way.