Patience Essays (3171 words) - Emotions, Patience, Spirituality

Patience ART 275 VIDEO & SOUND BARRET LANGLINAIS 7/28/99 PATIENCE My Monday morning already was a hectic one. I found myself already ten minutes late for work, as I drove down the busy main street in the city where I lived. Coming up on a stoplight, I cut off a driver in the car next to me. Having total disregard for anyone but myself. As I proceeded through the stoplight it was quite apparent that I had upset the driver in the car. As I drove it became more and noticeable that this young driver had become more and more upset. We would reach stoplight after stoplight taking turns cutting off each other. In the process we would totally disregard the other drivers we included in our being impatient with one another. I had to be first at every light, every stop sign, or passing others in front of us. My motivation was the only thing important to me. Even at the expense of this other drivers and their own motives. Finally after several instances of getting the finger from him I stopped at a stop sign rolled down my window and said to him that I would really like to talk to him. Already knowing that I was so late for work I hoped that he would oblige. He did and we proceeded to find the next available side road in which we could get off the main road. Getting out of the car I was hoping he wouldn't be too angry. I approached him and motioned to a nearby park bench. We sat down and this is what took place. ALAN: Hi sir, How are you today? I would like to talk to you about what took place a few moments ago. Is that Okay? JIM: That is certainly okay, I was kind of thinking that we needed to talk about it to. ALAN: What's your name? JIM: My name is Jim. ALAN: Hi Jim, my name is Alan. JIM: Nice to meet you Alan. ALAN: Why were you in such a hurry Jim? Don't you realize that it takes patience to get where you are going. JIM: Yes, I realize this. May I ask why are you in such a hurry. If you are worried about patience from me, what is your meaning of the word patience? ALAN: Patience to me is a virtue few people have mastered. Patience is something gained with experience. Life shows us in many ways what it takes to have true patience. I feel the true meaning of patience is self respect as well as respect of others. JIM: Does this mean that true patience is a learned virtue? Does this mean that respect is important to you. Do you respect yourself as well as respect me? Then why do you act like myself when you get behind the wheel of your car? Can you explain these questions I have. It seems to me that you in explaining yourself contradict what you believe. ALAN: I can see where you can come up with these questions. With the way I was acting I too would question my motives on the road as well as my believing what true patience means. JIM: It is apparent that all you are truly worried about is your self. Why would you care for others as well as other situations that require patience, isn't being first truly what all people want. If not, then why do we look in every car on every freeway and see impatience. Motivation to be first. All they care about is themselves. ALAN: I can see your point. Not only is this situation important for developing patience. I believe that this is only one of the many reasons and meanings of patience. And realizing the other reasons as well brings us to respect of others. JIM: I guess you might be right. What might they be? ALAN: When you were a kid and your father made you wait for something you truly wanted. You went through a lot of pain. Is this right? It wasn't easy. He had good intentions. He knew that someday you would be faced with certain situations where you would put into practice, this lesson of waiting on others. In other words, patience. JIM: When I