Academy Award-winning American actor, writer and folk music singer Burl Ives was made famous by playing the role of “Big Daddy” in the play turned movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Big Daddy is portrayed as an impatient, selfish, and harsh father to his son Brick, played by Paul Newman. Big Daddy epitomizes impatience: agitated, red, sweaty, shaky, and hot. All signs of high level stress.
In a comedic exchange in the play/movie, Big Daddy and his wife have a conversation:
Harvey ‘Big Daddy’ Pollitt: Let’s go home.
Ida ‘Big Momma’ Pollitt: Don’t you want to ride with the children, honey?
Harvey ‘Big Daddy’ Pollitt: No!
Ida ‘Big Momma’ Pollitt: [laughing] He’s his sassy old self again, all right!
Harvey ‘Big Daddy’ Pollitt: Be quiet, woman!
Throughout the play/movie, Big Daddy does not have much patience for Big Momma or for that matter his entire family in general.
Sometimes we can emulate a “Big Daddy” lack of patience. We get all hot and bothered when something does not go our way. We get frustrated at little things, people, and even inanimate objects. We yell, kick, screen, and lose control. When we want something, like a child, we want it now!
In this season of Advent, we patiently wait for Christmas.
In Luke chapter 1, we read of the Song of Zachariah. Zachariah was told that he would be mute until his son John the Baptist was born. In true 
fashion, Zachariah had to wait patiently for the coming of the of his son. Imagine the months of frustration, anger, sadness, and waiting that Zachariah had to experience not being able to talk.
The patience of Zachariah is not unlike the patience that Israel experienced. They too were frustrated, angry, sad, and had difficulty waiting for the Messiah. Every prophet that spoke the word of God said the same thing: prepare, wait, and make ready. Israel was waiting! Hundreds of years pasted by since the first foretelling of the messiah arrival future arrive.
Patience is one of those virtues that is not easily learned. Either you have it or you don’t. Advent help us prepare with patience. Advent teaches us the importance of waiting patiently for the coming of Christmas, the Christ child. In learning how to wait for Christmas, we learn how to wait for other things in our lives, the small stuff. We also learn how to wait for traffic or long lines, but also Advent teaches us to be patient for the big stuff: wayward children, difficult friends, and waiting for God to answer prayer.
We have two choices in life when we wait: be like Bid Daddy with our big selfish needs or we can use patience to mold and teach us the value of waiting. I pray that as we move closer to Christmas, you can experience the gift of patience that we need in life.
Also, we hope you will join us for “A Night in Christmastown” TONIGHT @ 7:30 p.m. Come and kick off the Christmas season with First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa as they will present their annual community Christmas presentation on December 4, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in conjuncture with Ballston Spa’s First Fridays. “A Night in Christmastown” will also be a celebration in theater, music, sing along with Christmas carols. Revel in the beautiful sounds of the First Baptist Church choir, women’s ensemble, men’s quartet and children’s choir. A delicious dessert buffet will be served after the performance. Come celebrate the meaning of Christmas right here in Ballston Spa as we present “A Night in Christmastown.” This event is FREE!
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