Patience Management
Have you ever said (or heard someone else say) “God’s just teaching me patience” during a ridiculously infuriating moment that could be solved by someone getting the H out of your way?
I know I have, but I don’t think I’ve ever really meant it.
The idea is actually ridiculous. It’s not going to teach you patience. The act of being pissed off will never make you be not pissed off. You may learn to swallow it, but you’re not going learn from your experience. How could you?
The idea that patience is something that you can learn in different frustrating situations is actually frustrating. Yes, the situation requires patience, but you’re not going to grow patience by being in the midst of a frustrating situation. You manage your frustration.
Some of you may be saying, “But that’s being patient.” And that’s where you’re wrong.
Patience is not getting angry or frustrated in the first place. No matter how slow that guy in the Toyota Tercel is going in the passing lane even though the speed limit is 10mph faster than his current speed. Patience isn’t getting frustrated at all. Patience is saying, “No big deal, I can wait,” without your teeth grinding and your knuckles turning white gripping your steering wheel, and your wife saying, “Calm down, honey.”
I, for one, do not possess this spiritual gift.
I am not sure how God will choose to give it to me. I’m sure in time, I will learn that it’s not a big deal that I go 20mph over the speed limit, so it doesn’t matter if someone’s going slower than I want them to. I’m confident that He will show me this.
But as for right now, I’m learning to manage my patience. I’m learning to check my anger, or bury it as the case may be. I’m learning to not glare at every car that I speed around (with the help of my wife), and hopefully someday, God will show me the secret to being patient in a safe manner.
