The Virtue of Patience

With college behind me, I find myself sitting on the sidelines waiting for the coach to call out my name to get into the game. In practice I did all the drills to perfection, in scrimmages I mastered the playbook, and in team meetings I zeroed in on every word put forth by the coaches. The playclock is ticking, but nothing is happening. The players are in movement, but I’m motionless. “Come on coach…just put me in the game and watch me perform!”

Impatience is the frustration, anger, and resentment you feel when you’re not able to control a situation to your liking. Throughout my life I have always considered myself a patient person, although there have been moments when I pushed it to an extreme. While others would jump ahead with zealous anticipation of the event at hand, I was content to wait it out until the very end. Patience at this point in my life is so difficult to achieve because it requires me to be actively passive about the situation. It’s like trying to forget something. The more I think about it, the harder it is to forget it. I know I have to overcome this emotional feeling because impatience can rob me of my happiness, and I truly have much to be happy about.

There is a reading in the book of Isaiah (40:31) that tells us that “those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.” When eagles soar to new heights, they make use of the wind beneath their wings in a very unique way, and rather than spending needless energy, they patiently glide along the currents above.

I remain confident that in time the right opportunity will present itself. My name will be called and I’ll respond with all the enthusiasm and confidence that’s been pent up inside for the past number of months. My father always reminded me that “good things come to those who wait” and this is one of those times when I need to pay real close attention to his wisdom.

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” Aristotle