What is patience, and why is it such a rare commodity these days?
So much depends on the answer to this vital question, including your very survival, whether or not you believe it (see the article in this issue: What Is The Ultimate Cancer? for a revealing insight and revelation on this)!
Let's consult the dictionary definition for the word patience, to learn more...
"1 calm endurance of hardship, provocation, pain, delay, etc. 2 tolerant perseverance or forbearance. 3 the capacity for calm self-possessed waiting" (source: Reader's Digest Oxford Complete Wordfinder Dictionary and Thesaurus).
So enduring hardship, provocation, pain and delay are at the heart and core of patience, meaning toleration to persevere and forebear difficult situations and conditions, while remaining calm and awaiting better times.
These are all traits that are associated with peace and peaceful people, including those who endure the ultimate trial of death itself, in calm self-assurance in the promise of a better way of life thereafter.
Future History
Obviously, to be true, there must be a resurrection from death back to life once again, promised for some future time when the conditions for such an event will exist.
It makes no sense to believe that death, or the cessation of life, is some form or sort of prolongation of life in a different form.
This is a popular delusion so many convince themselves into believing against all evidence to the contrary.
Those who have had actual near-death experiences cannot say that the tunnel of light is not itself a direct passage into that future time when the recreation or resurrection will seem to be but a moment after death, even though it could have taken thousands of years passing in the mortal world we call reality.
We all must face death, when our physical lifetime here on earth comes to an end.
So why not do this with calm, patient, tolerant forbearance, rather than the disquiet, fear, trepidation and angst with which most contemplate or experience this unavoidable end of their life?
Think of patience as a sort of feast, or repast, in which you are able to sample some of what life is meant to be in advance.
Calm and assurance in the face of every trial and test is necessary if you are to truly enjoy any lasting peace, free from all worries finally.
Of course, the only way you can enjoy such a repast is if you first believe in the promises that the best is yet to come, if you will but delay your gratification and forestall all false attempts to create a counterfeit "security" in a warring age of rebellion, strife and discontentment.
A Coming Time of Peace On Earth
How could you possibly enjoy the fruits of someone else's labors, without doing your share of the effort it takes to create a real peace on earth?
This will only finally be achieved by those who are peaceful, kind, considerate and compassionate.
Those whose good will blesses the lives of others -- even if it means some discomfort or cost to themselves in the process -- will alone be deserving of experiencing a peaceful world devoid of conflict eventually.
First, however, we must all put in our time enduring this present age or world of troubles, heartaches, pain and loss.
So why not do this with the warmth of heart that radiates out to embrace the needs of others; those deserving of your consideration by their own patient endurance of hardship, undeserved opposition, or painful separation from what most think of as their right, due or prerogative?
In this manner patience truly is a repast best served warm, rather than cold or piping hot.
Neither of these extremes brings out the best, tastiest, enjoyable and pleasant results from patient endurance, which is peacefully living with the only true security that exists; that which insures the safety and well-being of your neighbor as equal to your own.
And this can only be accomplished, finally, by looking to the ultimate Lawgiver for guidance and help, which can never be found through carnal, human regulations, flaws (false laws), rules or procedures.
Peaceful Endurance Until All Promises Are Fulfilled
The entanglements of such devices and means, as are the norm among nations and states today, are what rob us of peace and tranquility daily, leading to so many needless skirmishes, wars and loss.
Better by far is a single day in the city of peace than a lifetime spent amongst the greedy purveyors of freedom from responsibility, and attempts to forestall justice and recompense for wrongs done "in the name of the law," or through blind patriotism, which leads only to perpetual conflict.
If you are truly wise you will patiently look forward to, and await -- if need be even despite privation or poverty -- with peaceful endurance, that blessed reality, coming sooner than you realize to this grieving old world.