Patience is not defined by waiting politely. It’s a sweat-stained practice of making peace with what is while putting our weight behind what we believe can be. Holding tension because we know it’s more than unavoidable; it’s necessary. Proof that we’re alive. So, we keep our hand to the plow even when we can’t see the longed-for outcome on the horizon. What we’re waiting for and working toward is worth it. – Charis Dietz for Magnolia Magazine, spring 2023

I don’t think I’ve always been impatient. I’m wondering if it’s an age thing or is it because technology makes everything literally at your fingertips or in your back pocket. Rarely do we have to wonder anymore. I like to wonder, but I also like to know right now. The two are hardly compatible. I feel impatient waiting behind other cars who are waiting at the red light. Now everyone is sitting on go, watching the light and then the light turns green. Nobody moves. This makes me insane. We’ve all been sitting there just waiting to go and the first car sits there unmoving. I’m convinced the driver is catching up on Facebook or Instagram or texting. I don’t honk or yell or anything. I try to practice calm, and then we all move right along. I’m hanging on to Dietz’s quote above: “Holding tension because we know it’s more than unavoidable; it’s necessary.” Breathe in. Breathe out.

On the flip side, daily living takes a lot of patience and requires waiting if you want to live well and keep in good health. I wait for the mail-lady not knowing for sure when she might come. When she does, I wave to her. On a nice day it’s an enjoyable walk to the mailbox. On a not-so-nice day it’s still nice to get mail. Since the newspaper now comes through the mail, I don’t have to wait until afternoon or walk down the gravel road for the newspaper.

I’ve mentioned before we had the big lake dug out deeper last fall. Since then, we waited for the rains to come and fill the lake. With every rain, and we have had many lately, the lake filled. There was a certain enjoyment in watching and waiting. I’d like to keep a good attitude of waiting in all things. Surely it could be possible to wait kindly if one tried.

The past three years have been difficult in terms of all the changes made by the pandemic. It should and could have been an excellent school to practice waiting. We waited for our favorite food brands. We waited for gas prices to go down. We waited in our cars outside the vet office or the medical clinic. We waited to be able to see our friends and families in person. We waited to return to our church’s worship services. The waiting list goes on and on.

Right now, I’m waiting to plant tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and other assorted growing things. I’m waiting to see the wildflowers again and maybe plant some zinnias or sunflowers. Waiting can be a good thing. A bit of quiet, calm, patience, and time to enjoy the present. They say good things come to those who wait…maybe waiting a little more kindly.    

Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].