In a world where expectations of instantaneous demands for the delivery of goods, health, and success, are common, we transfer it often to the world of faith. We want conversions now, healings now, spiritual maturity now, human development now, and supernatural breakthroughs now.

St. Augustine is a sign to the church that people’s conversion comes in stages, discipleship is a process, prayer for unresolved and prolonged situations is heard in heaven and the ‘results’ depend ultimately on God’s timing, human docility, and responsiveness.

Augustine serves as a reminder that being patient with those who wish to leave a sinful lifestyle behind, but are bound by it to the extent that it seems to cut them to the core throughout the years, can be fruitful as long as we keep the truth in check with grace, not leniency. It is important to love and live through the process with people, instead of just overwhelming them with valuable information. We should not leave things to the most anointed meetings or teachings but recognize the potential of the glory of God in their hearts.

Through the years of presenting Jesus’ love to others, I find that loving with patience and prayer is extremely hard for choleric temperaments as mine to endure yet entrusting people to God’s hands again and again is the key to their growth into freedom. Continual affirmation of their call looks often like frustration but frustration is better than leaving someone behind. I get frustrated but I rarely leave people behind. I rather yell from love than look for ‘better ones’. I’d like to think that maybe after I’m gone they will get it. Jesus was frustrated too. Only after He left they got it.

Leaders look often for the able, ready, formed, educated, prepared, and experienced, with portfolios filled with conversions, baptisms, healings, degrees, mystical experiences, gifts of the Spirit etc.

I find that watching ‘lost causes’ coming slowly to life brings me the greatest satisfaction for when I see the human transformed by the divine I am in awe of what comes of it.

Very often those ‘slow’ to grow will not measure intellectually or philosophically to the statue of Augustine yet after some years they come to match him in loving God and others. They become the faithful ones, burning like fire ambers through the night’s fires. When others burn out, they burn steady, knowing that weakness is the way to find Father’s mercy.