The passage for this week looks at John the Baptist's first contact with Jesus (John 1:29-42). John did not immediately realise who Jesus was and then later on John's disciples also failed to recognise him. Even when they had worked out who he was Jesus still needed to spend the day explaining himself to them - any understanding John and his disciples had of Jesus was not instantaneous but took time and needed to be worked at. What a contrast this is to our quick fix society - ingrained impatience cuts into how we live our lives. There was a time when I would feel safe standing in a queue, but now if I have not got my money ready to pay as soon as I reach the front I can sense the impatience behind me. If you don't make the time to appreciate what might not immediately be apparent you end up with a misunderstanding; misunderstanding leads to confusion; confusion leads to ignorance; ignorance leads to judgement and judgement leads to contempt.

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