False virtues

Indolence reflects a lazy spirit, and stoic actions reflect an artificial indifference in regard to all things. Only thing that matters to this person is his own impertubility which implies a loss of response to values. In either case, these conditions lack an ardent zeal for the victory of our God.

Likewise, the Buddhist mentality sees all reality as mere appearance, or is to be detached and to dispense of all obligations of duty and accomplishment. One becomes merely a spectator looking unfavorably to all activity and tension. This makes it impossible for one to encounter reality and work through it to develop Christlike character.

The stoic develops an attitude to things insofar as they affect the mind. The Buddhist modifies one's basic relation to the world of reality and negates one's responsibility to do one's part within its framework.

Traits of Patience

The ups and downs of life challenge the pursuit of constancy and perseverance in the face of stark reality. Petulance, fickleness and quarrelsome aspects come about whenever a n action seems to require a long period of time which is a common test.

Impatience is a form of self-indulgence. When we expect something and don't get it, we get upset. This involves an element of time. Three varieties of evil related to time may account for impatience: delay in securing of a coveted good; any kind of lasting unpleasantness (boring people); and the boredom inherent in pure waiting.

These tendencies show that one has not yet succeeded in establishing that distance between one's responsible self and one's unredeemed nature with the desires and impulses it harbors. This is a test of sovereignty - yours or God's. Impatience, therefore, is rooted in an illegitimate sovereignty of self.

Roots of Impatience

The reality imposed by God is that there is a space of time that exists between our will and decision and the fulfillment of our purpose. The impatient man ignores this reality. We become harsh, petulant, unkind which implies a lack of depth. We are to keep in mind that fulfillment of any aim of man is a gift of God. It is a question of the higher good in contrast to trivial goals. What irritates an impatient person above all is too sluggish effect of his order, his attempt to influence man's behavior, and the development of a situation.

Virtues of Patience (Hierarchy of Goods and Things)

The patient man preserves the right order on the scale of his interest. The requirement of the moment no matter how imperious, can never displace or overshadow his attention to higher values. This is due to the 'art of waiting'. He refrains from letting himself go. He checks his nature and its stirrings, and no matter the provocation, bears the cross that he may respond biblically.

Patience is a life centered in Christ, an absolute dependence on Him, as well as an acceptance of our creature finiteness. He who has patience abides by the Truth. The impatient man submits to the bondage of the moment.

Holy patience means our responses to the Truth reveal that it is not we but God alone Who determines the proper day and the hour for our fruitful performances of certain actions and , even more, exclusively, the ripening of our seed and the harvest labors.

Fullness of Time

To grow in inner and personal holiness requires a passage of time. Need to wait on God's timing not ours. As Noah in the ark performed his functions, he focused his attention on God, and waited, as God developed and matured the situation. Then Noah was told to depart. Paul spent a number of years in the desert as did John the Baptist before they started their work.

Fruits of Patience

Within the attitude of patience, we let God act and allow all things to unfold from above. Accordingly, the fruits of patience are faith, hope and love.