Making Patience A Way Of Life

The two most powerful warriors are Patience and Time
Leo Tolstoy 1828-1910

Patience is becoming a much easier choice of attitude these days. It has taken deliberate and consistent effort, born out of a growing consciousness that  in certain areas of my life I needed to be less impatient.

I don’t have the blessing of the “stimulating” presence of my God-daughter (in the photo above) to help me, like she has been helping my girlfriend with her ‘patience issues’. However, working in a leadership role certainly adds its own stimulating moments to life that needs no additional stimulation. In the past 1o years of full time pastoral ministry, a dull day would be a day I am sick, in bed and feeling too lousy to even read. Now that’s a dull day. Neither have I had (or known any colleague) who is able to make it through an entire week without one challenge or the other that tests their patience meter.

Leadership cannot be effective without the strength of patience. Some people are naturally gifted that way. Others, like me, have to work at it. For me, its an accomplishment far more valuable than material gain. So I keep working patiently toward my continued growth in this vital area

Nevertheless, I have come a far way; and, that’s not bragging. Of course I’m aware there is a whole lot more work to be done. I have come to accept and appreciate that struggle and challenge builds patience. Each time I overcome the obstacles and delays I face in life, patience shapes a new character. And I like the more patient person I am becoming, because I am a much stronger person as well.

And I will know I am at the stage of sainthood when,

• I can spend an entire day in the presence of  a few select individuals that I can think of, and not “lose it” even once
• I am still smiling and dialing after several attempts to get through to Customer Service at any given company, after navigating through the automated voice menu, and getting a busy tone more than 3 times
• leaders attend training sessions, take no notes, continue to do the wrong thing then say they were not told what to do and I pat them on the shoulder each time and tell them again oh so gently what they are to do

I don’t hold out much hope for sainthood. But who knows. What about you? Are you known for your patience?

You can engage in the practice of making patience a way of life by accepting that:

• we can never be too patient and acknowledge if you need to develop the art of patience in your life
• “life is like a box of chocolates…” – Forest Gump
• everyone is not buzzing on the same frequency as you, so take time to understand others
• you are not perfect so don’t expect others to be
• not even this article has all the answers you are looking for!

Be patient…

Marvia