I took a class in college called "The God We See". It was about art, philosophy, God's mark in creation, and virtues among other things. My favorite part of the class was reading excerpts by Henri Nouwen regarding patience. Most likely because patience was (and still is) something I needed to work on. A few homework challenges were driving without the radio on or above the speed limit, not checking your phone while waiting in line, and only being able to walk slowly everywhere. Fast forward a couple years and being in Peru is a much more complex challenge!
Some are external: paying for things often requires physically visiting a bank or an "agente" rather than on your phone, using public transportation everyday in a city that supposedly has 4x as many cars as it was made for, or having to search multiple stores for specialty items like coffee filters that are found almost nowhere. Others are internal: speaking slow and broken Spanish while also asking the speaker to slow down "un poco", learning the rules and customs of a culture, and being okay that others countries are not obsessed with efficiency and timeliness like the United States is.
Throughout these varying experiences, which cause varying results I have been consciously aware of in myself - how I think of others, how I speak to my wife, and how my attitude is - I try to think eternally and pray about what really matters. The last week or so I've been reading in Genesis. Abraham displayed patience waiting for a child, Jacob displayed patience working seven years not once but twice to marry both Leah and Rachel, and Joseph had patience with his brothers and while in prison in Egypt. Humans made mistakes in the waiting - sleeping with a servant, marrying two women, pride and jealousy - but God remained faithful...as always!
When one fully trusts in God's word and what Jesus did for us, we should wait only in His strength. Patience communicates that we aren't fully in control, we know life isn't just about us, and we are fully loved in every moment. Why then be anxious? I am working on not only "being chill" or "rolling with the punches" because it creates a better or cooler personality, but because I believe I can then better see God's love and love others. Jesus lived a perfect life with perfect virtues, so I hope I can reflect Him by being a bit more patient each and every day.
Speaking of Henri Nouwen, I have a daily devotion of his called You Are the Beloved and here is an excerpt from it that I want to share with you:
"The first love says: 'You are loved long before other people can love you or you can love others. You are accepted long before you can accept others or receive their acceptance. You are safe long before you can offer or receive safety.'"
You are loved!
Matt