Tag: patience

O My Strength

Posted on by Olaf

Do you think of yourself as a weak or strong person?  If it is as a weak person, do you know why?  But if it is as a strong person, then what is the basis of your strength?  Anyone who derives strength from denigrating others is not to be admired.  Profaning the reputation or name of someone else to boost yourself is not only a sign of weakness but there are laws about defamation to criminalise slander and libel. Is it not then so sad to witness the pervasive ‘OMG’ defamation of God in today’s culture?  Without a second thought, people trot out ‘O my God’ as part of their language and don’t even notice when their children do the same.  What a beautiful contrast it is to hear someone call out to God, ‘O My Strength’ and really mean it.  Our lips are made to bless not to curse, to praise not to blaspheme, to build up not to pull down.

  • ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’ – Psalm 8:2

WAITING

Posted on by Olaf

There are many types of ‘lockdown’ but in all of them there is no escaping the time of waiting.  Even before you are born, your mum and other people were waiting for you!  The young can’t wait to grow up and gain their independence.  The old find they have to wait for everyone else to do things for them as they progressively lose their independence and sense of value.  We usually wait for something that matters to us and in doing so give that ‘something’ meaning.  It might be waiting for the bus, the answer to a proposal, the job offer, the operation … or even the exam to start, to stop or to get the result!  There’s lots of waiting in every part of life and we can do it with expectation or dread, with patience or impatience and with trust or in fear.  How do you wait?  What are you waiting for in this phase of your life?  Some are waiting for rescue and others to die.  We always seem to be waiting – even gardeners wait!

  • ‘We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us’ – E M  Forster

Patience

Posted on by Olaf

Have you ever planted a tree?  It is a good thing to do as they breathe for us – the Rain Forest of Brazil is described as the ‘lungs of the world’.  Capability Brown planted many but hasn’t lived to see the stunning results.  You see, it all takes time.  Trees seem to have plenty of this – the oldest Yew tree is about 3000 years old and lives in Fortingall, Perthshire.  ‘Methusaleh’ is the name given to a Bristlecone Pine in the White Mountains of California, reputedly aged 4,851 in 2019.  It is not surprising then that trees are often associated with ‘patience’.  What a contrast to a man with a chainsaw!

  • ‘Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience’ – Hal Borland

FRUSTRATION

Posted on by Olaf

Ever seen someone who is frustrated?  Ever been the one who is frustrated?!  A dangerous maelstrom of swirling emotions start spinning when you are unable to do something you once did or achieve something you’ve set your heart on – impatience, exasperation, annoyance, irritation, resentment, bitterness and anger are not far away.

‘I grew up with lots of anger, frustration, and violence in my heart’ – Rose Namajunas

 ‘It is hardly possible to build anything if frustration, bitterness and a mood of helplessness prevail’ – Lech Walesa