Keeping At It

“‘Yet because this widow keeps bothering me,

I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out

by continually coming.’”

–Luke 18:5            

The words above come from one of Jesus’ most uncomfortable parables. 

He opens it by telling of a judge who had no respect for God or people.  Certainly those traits are a dangerous combination in any era for one charged with ensuring the law is carried out justly, yet especially so as that jurist is approached by a widow who says ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.”  We aren’t told the problem, but in that culture widows were often lifted up to people of faith as needing special attention since by law widows could not inherit their husband’s estate.  In addition, women rarely spoke in judicial hearings so her appearance in Jesus’ parable implied that there was no other man in her family–son or brother, uncle or nephew–who could plead on her behalf.  The judge was her only recourse, but he didn’t care and instead refused to honor her petition  Perhaps he was waiting for a bribe.  Jesus doesn’t say, but depicts the woman as persistently making her request and the judge persistently refusing to act.   

Eventually he relents. We aren’t told of the ruling, but do get an unflattering glimpse into his rationale. The judge thinks to himself “because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” The closing phrase literally means lest “she in the end gives me a black eye.” Jesus concludes the parable by asking “Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night…I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Scholars are clear in affirming Jesus was not suggesting God is like that judge. God is not one who must be worn down before eventually giving petitioners justice. Nor is he saying that God will eventually act on our request so that we will be quiet. Rather, Jesus moves the action of the parable from the lesser to the greater to say if an earthly judge who does not fear God or human beings will eventually give justice how much more can we count on a loving God to respond? That woman’s persistence does underscores how there are times when God seems to delay in acting upon our petitions, but that we are to be steady even so. Luke says Jesus told the parable so that we might pray “always and not to lose heart.”  In other words, be persistent. 

In our summer-long look at desired traits a North Carolina school district sought to instill in its students, we come to that same goal. In more recent years, teaching persistence has also been characterized as instilling grit in young people. Either term points to the reality that all of us face times when success does not come right away. For young people, such persistence is necessary to learn needed math or grammar skills, mastering the periodic table or a jump shot. For adults, that same attribute is needed to make one more call on a day without any sales or teaching a four year old how to manage his frustration. Instead of giving up too soon there are times when all of us need to stick with it.

A decade ago, I had the privilege of offering an invocation and benediction at the dedication of a new Justice Center in my county. On the appointed day, I arrived a half-hour before the event started. It was bitterly cold outside and as I stepped onto the elevator an older gentleman I did not know came in behind me.  Someone on the lift knew him and commented about the weather. He agreed with the assessment and added that fortunately he had parked close to the building. I didn’t think anything more of it until I exited the elevator and could take in a sweeping view of the exterior from the fourth floor. Among other things I spotted was a lone car parked in an unusual place.

If you were to walk toward the entrance of that building today you could either reach the front door by a ramp that covers the elevation change from the street or by using two descending sets of stairs. There is a landing in between, but no parking spaces in front of the Justice Center. My elevator companion had driven his car down the first step of stairs and parked it on the landing. I learned later that he was a retired administrator who had instinctively turned in the direction of the parking garage that used to be on that site, but no longer exists. As a result, he had one bumpy ride. He wasn’t hurt, but later needed a tow truck to remove his vehicle. 

It must have been embarrassing yet he made the best of it, for when greeted on the elevator by the gentleman commenting on the weather, the driver replied, “Yes, it is cold, but at least I got a good spot near the entrance!”

Persistence is an admirable trait, even when events don’t turn out as we planned. Yet as we keep at it and continue to strive for a desired outcome in various settings, keeping one’s sense of humor doesn’t hurt!

Ever-faithful One, I celebrate your unfailing love and persistent care.  Help me to discern what actions of mine should continue and the ones I should stop.  Amen.