The challenge of patience

A month or so ago, I was honored to speak at one of our weekly Friday prayer services. The topic was “Wellness”, a theme for our school community this year. I spoke to the students about the winding, yet fulfilling, path of my career, and shared my thoughts on the best way to have balance in life and how to be patient in difficult and challenging times.

In today’s first reading from Samuel, David is increasingly feeling uncomfortable about his life, his “balance”, and the spoils that come from being a King. He laments that his house is so nice, “while the ark of God dwells in a tent.” He wants to do more to prepare for the fulfillment of God’s promises to the people of Israel. Through the prophet, Nathan, God tells David to be patient – that the time of the Lord will come and David’s descendants will be the ones to witness it.

Here at Jesuit Dallas, we try on a daily basis to move things along when working with our students. We want and hope that they learn the lessons we are trying to teach them as quickly as possible. It’s because we want the best for them. However, after 31 years, I’ve learned that the students learn the lessons at different times and in different ways. Patience!

In Luke’s Gospel, Zechariah believes, like David, in the prophecy that the Lord is coming. He is much closer to seeing it happen than David was, but still not close enough. Of course, his son John, will ultimately be the one to prepare for the coming of his cousin, Jesus. Zechariah needs to wait.

Closer to our daily lives, we know we play an important role in the development of our own children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. We often try to control their lives because we want so badly for them to be successful, compassionate, and loving people. However, at some point we have to release them to live their own lives. Patience is needed again.

Now that Christmas is almost here why does it seem like so much is still left to be done? We need Nathan to tell us, just like he did to David, that everything will work out according to God’s plan. I am relieved to know, though, that soon I will be sitting around the table with family and friends celebrating the promise of salvation that God made to all of us. 

Merry Christmas!

Author: Jack Fitzsimmons, Director of Guidance and College Counseling