Patience

Patience, hard thing!

Patience, hard thing! the hard thing but to pray,
But bid for, patience is! Patience who asks
Wants war, wants wounds; weary his time, his tasks;
To do without, take tosses, and obey.

Rare patience roots in these, and, these away,
Nowhere. Natural heart's-ivy Patience masks
Our ruins of wrecked past purpose. There she basks
Purple eyes and seas of liquid leaves all day.

We hear our hearts grate on themselves: it kills
To bruise them dearer. Yet the rebellious wills
Of us we do bid God bend to him even so.

And where is he who more and more distills
Delicious kindness? - He is patient. Patience fills
His crisp combs, and that comes those ways we know.

After reading Mark's thoughts this morning, I came across this poem from Gerard Manley Hopkins. Patience is indeed a hard thing, when we are used to living in an on-demand culture. But spirituality, closeness with God, holiness, whatever you want to label it, requires patience. Patience to bend our will towards the will of God. Patience to wait in silence for God. Patience with our own weaknesses.

Comments

[penni]

first of all, i want to thank you for turning me onto gerard manley hopkins - i just got his book, "mortal beauty, God's grace." his writings are very moving and i enjoy them very much.

i wanted to comment that i don't ever pray for patience, because in response to said prayer, God usually sends trials (as if i don't have enough of them already!) you stated:

Patience to wait in silence for God.
Patience with our own weaknesses.

you hit it right on with both of those examples. i strain as i might to hear God's voice, but can't shut up long enough (in telling Him i am silent and waiting, lol) to hear it at times. also, i have almost no patience at all for my weaknesses.

guess i have a little work to do in 2005.

peace and blessings in the new year.

[david]

it is remarkable to me how the poets, and artists of the culture are the prophets of the culture itself . . . somehow they are able to 'fill-in' extra meaning beyond the mere words . . . thanks for the lifting up . . . peace : : :

[Jim]

My wife's view on this subject: "Patience is a virtue; Possess it if you can; It's found seldom in a woman; and NEVER in a man!"......

[MrJ]

Thanks for these thought provoking words. Still digesting them. Patiently.

Peace Bro :)

[Fran]

Yes, patience. I thought I recognized Gerard Manley Hopkins. Still traveling with limited internet access. Thanks for commenting at SO.

[Victoria]

Hopkins Conference March 18-20 at Regis University
in Denver, CO 80221. Paper proposals are welcome.