Patience: Enduring sufferings and accepting the trials of life without complaint, neither too grieved nor too passive in facing difficulties.
Patience Reflection by McKayla Boich, BA’18, MA’22, Assistant Director of Admission Operations
It’s a weeknight with precious little downtime. I’ve decided to do something more enriching than endlessly scrolling and start a new book. The first few chapters creep by, setting the scene. Before I know it, I slip a finger along the back cover and flip to the end.
More and more in my life, patience is a rare commodity. Maybe you feel similarly. Whether it’s small matters like spoiling the end of a book for yourself, or something life-changing, letting go of expectations and embracing patience is a lifelong challenge.
As one of the twelve virtues of a good teacher, patience is defined as “Enduring sufferings and accepting the trials of life without complaint, neither too grieved nor too passive in facing difficulties.” Considering this definition, I’d personally lose points on the “without complaint” portion.
Going deeper, discerning what this virtue says about humanity and the divine, I see it as an invitation, an out even. It goes without saying that life throws us curve balls when we least expect them – or want them – which can make living feel like trudging through a series of burdens, one after the other. Patience offers another way.
Accepting our trials is an acknowledgment that we’re not always responsible for or in control of the many challenges we face. This knowledge eases some of the burden that comes with living, and the hand doing the lifting is God. Further, the clarification that we needn’t be toopassive in our patience indicates that the desired outcome is not silent submission, but a better understanding of and closer relationship with God.
Applying this view of patience to the context of a university, I’m reminded of how Father Greg Boyle described the slow nature of his work rehabilitating gang members in his book, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Helping others overcome great hardship and achieve success requires unbelievable patience. The key is to remain ready to serve and leave the timing up to God.
