Patience is a virtue. You hear it all the time. Now we know what it means thanks to the the trusted dictionary. I neither disagree with the statement nor what it means. However I would like to explore it just one step further and point out exactly when and what situations where having the virtue of patience is acceptable (in my mind of course). I am going into this because I think that phrase is often used without a full grasp of what a situation might need. I think that phrase is often used to keep the impulses of people that would normally be impatient for valid reasons at bay. It makes them a little complacent and a little too accepting or tolerant of the delays, trouble, or suffering that occurred.
I believe it is “okay” to be patient when and only in the event that a situation is out of your control. When there is nothing else possible for you to do to affect a situation then you have to exercise patience and see how the situation pans out. When you’re doing something that involves other people, or any other mechanism other than your actual self AND you have done everything required of you with a some extra on top for good measure then you can start to exercise patience.
Outside of that I think being patient should be held at bay. If there is a result you want, and you want it right now or by a certain time, you have to let go of that patience and work like mad to reach that goal as soon as possible or by your set deadline. People often say be patient, and that what you’re working towards will come with time. I ask why wait? I believe that impatience should add fuel to the already burning fire of desire you have to achieve whatever your goal(s) may be.
When Jordan was in the NBA he wanted to win a championship. He didn’t sit back and say well I’ll just wait, workout, get better, and the championship will come in due time. Not at all. He was relentless in his pursuit of his championships. He was relentless in his quest to become the best player he could be and win championships during his career. Even when he came back at age 40, he didn’t sit back and say well maybe I can do it maybe I can’t. Maybe I can be effective at this age I’ll just be patient and see how it pans out. Not at all, he worked relentlessly and was often times better than the people in the NBA that were close to half his age.
In conclusion, be relentless in your pursuit of your goals and the virtue of patience should only be exercised when there is nothing else that you as an individual can do to affect the situation for the better.
Great post!! Reminds me of the scripture in James 2:17 ...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.