Patience is a virtue if we can stand it

For many of us, being patient is difficult, maybe because we lack the virtue of patience. This difficulty can arise, for example, when reading a perspective in a newspaper and wondering what the point is.

Think of the slogan, “Lord, give me patience -- but I want it now!” Yes, some of us are like that. Not me, of course, I’m just writing about it.

However, I have often wondered at medical sites about the signs that read “Patient Waiting.” I think that there should also be an area marked “Impatient Waiting.” Impatience can cause a person problems. Again, not me. I recall, though, being delayed for a flight at PDX in Oregon. We were told several times that our connecting flight had a problem but that we’d soon be able to board. After waiting for quite a long time, a young man who had been loudly complaining actually climbed onto the gate desk and yelled for our attention.

His tirade essentially claimed that the employees were lying and that we might not get out that night. He went on to shout that he was going to rent a car to reach his destination. He then jumped off the desk and stormed off. He was not long out of sight when an airline employee announced from the desk that the problem was fixed and that we could now board. Just a few more minutes of patience and the young man’s problem would have been fixed. There were many smiles at the result of his impatience.

Traffic accidents often are to blame due to a driver’s impatience. I have seen so many wrecks caused by passing too soon or tailgating because one driver just had to get where he was going and dang the consequences. In fact, the following from the Cowboy State Daily caught my eye: “Many snowplow strikes occur when drivers attempt to pass a truck while it’s on the highway. ... Many incidents occur because of ‘impatience’ rather than severe winter conditions.”

According to a spokesman, “People are being incredibly impatient when they decide to pass our (WYDOT) snowplows. It’s a huge problem in winter. Our plows will pull over and allow you to pass them when it’s safe to do so, but if you pass a plow on your own, you’re inviting all kinds of trouble.”

Obviously, note some medical observations, “Being impatient can lead to poor decisions, increased stress, health problems including hypertension and obesity, damaged relationships due to critical behavior and a tendency to give up easily or overlook important details. It can also cause you to miss out on the journey and the small wins along the way, focusing only on the end result.”

I can agree wholeheartedly with that, as have many much more learned than I. Said St. Augustine, “Patience is the companion of wisdom.” Long ago, English author Samuel Johnson stated, “Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.” Good ol’ Ben Franklin penned, “He that can have patience can have what he will.”

Like many folks, it’s tough to learn that patience does not develop overnight (“I want it now!”).  As we head into the winter drearies, let us remember that God’s power and goodness are crucial to the development of patience. Colossians 1:11 tells us that we are strengthened by Him to “great endurance and patience,” while James 1:3-4 encourages us to know that trials are His way of perfecting our patience.

I’d go on, but I’m getting impatient to reach the end of this offering.