On impatience
Last evening, after I posted yesterday’s “Just one of those days”, Karl and I went for a walk. I was thinking a blast of fresh “Spring masquerading as Winter” air would banish my doldrums. I almost always enjoy being out once I get out, even if conditions are not wonderful and last evening was no exception. We dawdled around our loop and it felt good but also just a bit more of tiring. Whether Karl was feeling the same or picked up on my feelings, he followed me into the house – a bit unusual as he would normally get a treat and pick a spot in the yard to munch and watch. I took the cue and said, “Let’s just go to bed” and we did! Bob NEVER has objections to going to bed at any time of day. It was 6:45.
I slept well. Bob and Karl were quiet all night so I assume they also slept well. Fresh start on a new day.
I listen to a Jesuit produced podcast called Pray as you go in the morning. The podcasts start with music which varies from Gregorian Chants to contemporary to African Monks chanting with what I call a tribal beat. A verse of scripture is read. The Jesuit group that puts this together is in Britain and most of the readers have a Celtic lilt and accent that seems to put a soft serenity into the readings and the questions that follow. The questions are along the lines of “how did that make you feel” and “what did you notice” but with some specificity to the reading.
Today’s scripture was from Exodus and was a short couple of verses where the Israelites are complaining about the wilderness and its lack of good food, conveniently forgetting that they were, in fact, rescued from persecution. Their take at that moment is more “out of the frying pan and into the fire” and they are pretty blunt with God and Moses about their dissatisfaction and impatience. I believe this was near the beginning of their 40 years in the wilderness so they had a bit to go out there.
But, the “make you think” question in the podcast – the thing that really hit home to me, was “What are you impatient about?”. It made me sit up straight, take notice and think. On the tail of a day where everything seemed “wrong” although nothing really was, it hit me that it was impatience with things of no real importance in the overall scheme of life that was at the root of my out of sortness. As is so often the case, a slight change of perspective changes my outlook and my “in feel” and the world seems right side up once more.
Impatience – it has its plusses and minuses. A certain amount of it has been very good in my life. I don’t wait for conditions to be perfect to try something or do something so I’ve had opportunities for which I am very grateful. It is the impatience with the niggling things that often are beyond my control that causes me grief of my own making.
Today, I am rested and well. I have good work. I live in a place I love. I have friends and family. I have a dog and a cat. I am a beloved child of the great Creator. I have all I need and more. Life is truly good.
