What Does Patience Mean to You?

Patience breeds radiant living, which encompasses courage, joy, serenity, faith, hope, and love.  Patience is coming into the full realization of living in the now, being forgiving now, being tolerant now, being happy now, and being successful now.  Might the world be a better place if each of us practiced becoming more patient with ourselves and others?  Can patience change the course of humanity and heal the ills of anger, frustration, and discord?  Might we find that patience is the root to the ultimate pursuit of happiness? 
 
After the drought comes the rain.  After the night comes the day.  After the storm comes the sun.  After the winter comes the spring.  After the broken comes the healing.  If there is a season for everything under the sun and a time and purpose for every season, why is it so difficult to accept that after the adversity comes the victory, after the question comes the answer, or after the defeat comes the win?  In our culture of instant gratification, we’ve somehow lost the meaningful art of patience.
 
I am fascinated by the phenomenal growth process of the Chinese bamboo tree in the Far East.  Unlike most trees, this tree doesn’t break through the ground for the first four years.  However, in the fifth year, this bamboo tree can grow to a height of 90 feet in just five weeks!  The growers of bamboo trees have unwavering patience and faith as they keep watering, fertilizing, and caring for the ground.  They have no doubt that the seeds planted will yield a fully grown bamboo tree at the appointed time.   read more...