The power of patience

I must say that I am inspired by NC Tarheel Coach Roy Williams. I am not as good a person as he is. After the season Carolina had, when the NIT invitation came, I would have gathered the team and said, "We're not going. After the way you have played this year, I am not going to give you one more opportunity to embarrass me."
But he didn't. Coach Williams has never coached in the NIT before. But he went with his TarHeels and they have played some of the best basketball they played all year. Personally, as a devoted Duke fan, I am happy for them to be in some other post-season tournament than the NCAA where the Blue Devils are knocking on the door of another championship. But I shudder to think of the great experience that the young Tar Heels are getting in this tournament. I am sure we will face a stronger Carolina team next year because Coach Williams didn't give up on them.
At the core of the Christian experience is the amazing patience of God. And Maundy Thursday is exactly the day to remember that Jesus didn't give up on us. He had every reason to be discouraged: relentless religious critics, undependable disciples, fickle crowds. If, in Gethsemane, Jesus had prayed to the Father: "They are not worth it. They absolutely do not get it", we could never have criticized Jesus. Human nature gave Him more than enough to be grounds for giving up.
And that's where the amazing love of God steps in -- the love that will not let us go, the love that always believes we can do better, the love that gives grace and second chances, the love that always chooses forgiveness.
And today, as we stand at the special day when we remember that Jesus did not give up on us, can we show Him that we DO get it --that we truly appreciate the grace that has been lavished on us? Our appreciation will show most truly when/if we extend that grace to someone else that we have given up on...someone who needs forgiveness...someone who needs to experience grace.
Who in your life needs you to not give up on them? As we stand in Maundy Thursday's outpouring of grace, let us pass on the great gift we have received.