Insufferable Nits
by Gary Calton
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 3, 30 September 1991
Age gets all of us. But like most folks, you and I sometimes sit around and talk about the things that might have been....if only! Not too many years ago, a group at work was talking about age and the perfect age to be.
Since this was a young group, they thought that 18 was about the pinnacle of life. As I approached, being not only their boss but also the oldest person around, they asked my opinion on the subject. After thinking for a moment, I told them that I had enjoyed all the ages I had ever been and couldn’t really pick one that I would rather be. One clever young man then asked me if I wouldn’t really rather be 18. I decided that this might be a worthwhile age if I knew all that I knew at my present age, when I was 18 again. On reflection, you might think that I had made a sagacious decision. However, one of my coworkers, only a few years younger than I, and long ago having left the age of 18, immediately spoke up and said, "No, you wouldn’t. If you knew at 18 what you know now and you tried to associate with those of your own age, you wouldn’t be able to stand the insufferable little nits."
Since I have continued to work with this woman for another 10 years, I have often told this story to her co-workers, as much to reflect on her rather outspoken and determined manner as to enjoy her wit. After all, she was right. My tolerance level for childish actions on the part of adults is not very high. I have also noticed that the older horses in my front pasture behave exactly the same toward the foolish antics of the yearlings. After all, enough is enough!
On reflection, I am sure that you agree with her, especially if you agreed with me. I, as well as you, have learned too much from life, my experiences, and the books I have read to wish to regress to a lesser state. I try to act my age and not that of my children. It’s not that I don’t love them in their childish antics, it’s just that, like Paul, "when I became a man, I put away childish things" (I Corinthians 13:11).
In my studies recently, I noticed how aptly the above story applies to the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Jesus, knowing the eternal glory of heaven and being the creator of heaven and earth, descended to that lowly estate of being a man (Philippians 2:7). Reflection on his attitude and my own gives me a greater understanding of His patience and how little I have, especially when compared with the Master.
I often tell students in my classes that they are fortunate to have the opportunity to look at the entire revelation of God with the help of able men, thus preventing the stumbling and confusion of trying to reach an understanding of the Bible on their own. I can easily understand the gospel scheme of salvation, but then I had help. I know many people who didn’t receive the same quality of help I did, and they don’t understand it at all. And to think, they did have the instruction book. Of course, I had one for the last barbecue grill I put together (several times), too.
But as we think about Jesus the Master Teacher, what must his frustration level have been and what if it had been you or me, as we watched each of the disciples file into that upper room, noticing the wash basin and towels laid out for washing feet, and doing absolutely nothing with them (John 13:3-4)? Jesus had studied with them for three years, and yet none of them was going to automatically do what each of them knew to be a common courtesy, but which all of them must have felt was beneath their dignity (Luke 7:44; Genesis 18:4).
And what of the despair that might have overcome us if it were we who watched Peter cut off Malchus’ ear, and after three years of teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven (John 18:10, 36)? After all, shouldn’t they by this time have understood about the spiritual nature of the kingdom?
And what would our frustration have been with the ignorance of the twelve, after having taught them for three years, and then a thief, dying on the cross, displays more understanding about the kingdom than the disciples whom He loved (Luke 23:42; 24:10-21)? He is the only one we have a record of who didn’t despair because of Jesus’ death, as well as his own.
Now, coming to us as Christians, who have acknowledged our Lord and Savior and are still riven with strife, failing to teach the world, failing to support those willing to teach the world and lacking so much in our growth as Christians; can you imagine the frustration that you or I might feel if we were in the Lord’s place? How do you think the Lord feels about this? What frustration would we feel if we were merely in the place of those teaching us, teaching the world, or needing the support?
Indeed, you and I are fortunate that Jesus did not display the same frustration that you or I might feel in the situation, because most of us would have just given up. But the next time you are tempted to get discouraged, think of what it would be like to be 18 again, knowing all that you know now, and take courage; your Lord still waits for you to grow up to be like Him.
No, I really don’t want to be 18 again. I like the age I am (well, perhaps just a few years and infirmities off, and I could use just a little more hair). But I am truly thankful that the Lord set an example for me to follow. Lord, may our tolerance of others grow!
