we think of patience as a virtue we should cultivate. yet, as jack cornfield reminds us, the concept of "patience" carries negative connotations. we need patience to endure that which is uncomfortable, painful, or troubling. we say that we "lose our patience" when confronted with life's trials. kornfield suggests that a better perspective is that of constancy, to be unperturbed regardless of the circumstances. to that end, we learn to be grateful for those things that offer us a chance to remain constant in the face of adversity, retaining our inward calm in both good times and bad.
as i thought about this concept, i was reminded of many phrases that are part of my daily meditation. several times each morning, i pray that i may develop even-minded calm, that i may be constant, that i may persist and endure in love, that i may be peaceful and at ease. when i remember these phrases, i can face the petty and large tribulations of life without becoming angry or stressed. i can even be grateful for the opportunity to practice the even-minded calm that i try to instill in my heart and mind. it is when i forget the blessing of constancy that i feel my body tighten and my stomach tie itself in knots.
may we each learn to be constant rather than patient. may we be grateful for all that life brings us, learning to see the good in what would otherwise cause us pain and grief. may we be at peace with ourselves and the world of which we are a part. shalom.
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