Patience

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

When you’re doing what’s possible and everything seems to be going as well as it can, even if there are still immense challenges—that leaves you with only one option: patience. As we learn what needs to be learned, allow what needs to be allowed, and take responsibility for our lives, we may still find ourselves struggling or experiencing unpleasant results. Does that mean we are doing something wrong, or that there is something yet to be seen and adjusted? Not necessarily. Perhaps we just need patience—patience to allow the process of change to occur.

Sincere students typically fall into one of two categories. First, those who have yet to understand or begin to undo their shortcomings. (You may fall into this category if upon reading this you think to yourself, “I don’t have any shortcomings!” To be human is to have shortcomings—it’s as certain as death and taxes!) The next step for this group of souls is to acquire the appropriate knowledge and apply it to their lives.

The second group of students are those who are already doing what’s possible. They are applying the necessary knowledge in their lives, working through difficulties as best they can, and dedicating themselves to their own truth. This student has the opposite problem—they do not accept that they have shortcomings. They resist this fact of the human condition, which by definition means that one has many limitations. They may even beat themselves up for not seeing results more quickly. They believe they have done something wrong, or not enough, when in fact they are already progressing as fast as possible. They need not do more—but only to continue with patience as the new reality unfolds. We provide sunlight, water, fertilizer, and care—but we do not force the flower to blossom. Nature itself takes care of that part. We are responsible for the effort as we remain non-attached to the results.