I’ve heard of a prayer that goes something like this, “God give me patience and give it to me now.” Waiting can be difficult for many of us. Several come to mind. Standing in a checkout line. Sitting in doctors office. Waiting on a delayed flight at the airport. Meeting someone who is late for coffee. Waiting for the arrival of a new grandchild. Waiting for our tax return. 🙂 Waiting for a freezer of homemade ice cream to finish. Waiting for the pizza to be delivered. Yet, as I grow older I’ve learned to appreciate waiting. I really do enjoy those times of sitting or kneeling in wet grass waiting for the sun to touch the horizon as it rises or sets. Walking the streets waiting for a photo opportunity to present itself. Waiting silently in prayer or mediation. Waiting is a teacher if we let it. Waiting can be a discipline if we let it. Waiting can have special rewards if we let it. As Elizabeth Taylor says, “It is very strange that the years teach us patience – that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.” Are we learning to wait patiently or wanting it now?
11 Comments
paul
And really, it’s all about your perspective, isn’t it? In any given line of people waiting for something, whether it be at the DMV, the grocery store, etc, you can see different attitudes, all based on the same event. Some are playing on their phones, some are tapping their feet impatiently, some staring off into space, and still others are smiling. It just depends on how they choose to think about it. Knowing this, I’m usually the guy that’s smiling because I’m using that time to observe what other people are doing and to laugh, inside, that they don’t the secret. 🙂
Elizabeth Taylor was partially right. The years _can_ teach us patience, but to some, they refuse to learn. Excellent photo to go with the post, Monte!
Monte Stevens
A good observation of how we each react differently to situations, Paul. I see it all the time at the airport. I observed it this morning. Light snow is falling and yet there are drivers rushing to get to a job they despise. We need to slow down and have a bit more patience. Keep smiling my friend!
Tom Dills
It seems like we do spend a lot of time waiting. Unfortunately in many cases, such as the examples you give, that has become the norm. When we were moving I took a day off work to coordinate the cable guy, the appliance installer, the Lowe’s delivery guy and more, and while they all give you a “window” that generally means “sometime today, maybe.” Not one of them came within the timeframe promised, although they all eventually showed up that day! I’ve learned to always have something with me to do, whether it is my camera, my phone or my tablet with reading material that I can access without internet ( I really like Pocket!). That way, waiting time can still be enjoyed just like any other idle time. Our impatience only affects us, it certainly doesn’t hurry anybody else up! 🙂
Like Paul, I love observing other peoples’ behavior in circumstances where they have to wait. For some, they are completely unprepared, as though it never occurred to them that they might have to wait. Others come with a book, their knitting or their camera. Some are patient, many are not, but they are all interesting to watch.
This is a great photograph, Monte. I can think of several potential narratives that this would illustrate perfectly. Lots of possible storylines.
paul
“…as though it never occurred to them that they might have to wait.”
I laughed at this because it reminds me of a situation that I see a lot of times in the grocery store: A lady, always, will stand there, watch the cashier go through all of her items, see it total up, then wait for the person to give the total. Then, and only then, will she start rummaging around in her purse, trying to find her debit card, or worse, checkbook. I think the same thing: Ummmm, didn’t it occur to you that you just _might_ have to pay for this stuff??? LOL – It’s at this point that I must practice my own patience and see the humor in this situation – every … single … time. 😀
Monte Stevens
Yes, love those observing times. They can be entertaining and cause me to reflect on those times I can be just like them. Thanks, Tom. This image was impulsive. I saw the massive view, knew it would have a silhouette look and feel and the woman just standing there made it for me.
John
I was going to write something, but it can wait.
🙂
Monte Stevens
LOL Well, I’ll wait for your comment, whenever that is.
Cedric Canard
I sure like the photo Monte. And I do like waiting for something or someone. Waiting to be served, waiting for a meet-up, waiting for a photo to appear; I mean it’s not often I get an excuse to do nothing.
paul
You’re just a man on the go, Cedric! No time for waiting! 😉
Monte Stevens
I’ve learned how to wait, Cedric, which includes people who are consistently late. And, there is nothing wrong with doing nothing. 🙂
John-Visual Notebook
Very nice photo, Monte. For me, patience waiting seems to be dwindling as I get older, not the other way around, simply because as I get older, time becomes more precious, more important a commodity. You start to feel the clock ticking away. Probably shouldn’t look at it like that, but I do… When I enjoy contemplating, or meditating, it’s usually the result of location. If I’m out surrounded by nature, and the breeze is blowing softly through the Aspen or pines, I can sit and enjoy for extended periods.