Patience

There is so much I could say about patience. Sometimes I talk about patience to fill in exactly the space that requires it, perversely to help me be patient! As these are just serious distraction tactics because faffing doing something is easier than contemplatively doing nothing, burn out may well occur. In fact, it occasionally has done. Have you ever had to be really, really patient for something, nearly gone out of your mind over it, then realised afterwards that some amazing character building occurred as a result of your not being in control? If yes, can you name it? (That's pretty much how my singing and guitar came to life again.)

Choosing to 'put something down' is a big fat 'yes' to being still, and being still is an important principle in life happening well.

If you were to sit still in silence, how long do you think you'd last before going stir crazy? If you've not done this before, how about trying a minute, then build on it for the rest of lent, just to see what happens?

For a passionate person, have you found the tricky peak/trough of experience is stabilised over a helpless season of patience? Patience is a great leveller. Throughout the highs and lows, learning to accept you are not right about everything can be helpful, that your experience is subjective, that others' subjectivity matters too. Patience definitely affords that little gem of perspective.

Patience is about learning to stop fighting and be still.

Being still is receive as well as transmit. It is tide's ebb as well as flow. Breathe in, breathe out. Let patience have its way with you, just for a little while.


{Today's Soundtrack: Tom Williams & the Boat - Slow Thing}