I want this so much that I can’t wait!

Patior, having to do with suffering and endurance, is the Latin root for patience and so it is for passion. It’s strange how the thing for which we are most passionate is often the thing for which we are least patient. Two sides of the same coin? Or two steps in the process? I’m not too sure. You might think to stifle your passion is the means to have patience because then you could wait more happily. But would you really be happy? I think this practice (and it is a practice) leads quickly to apathy – yet another derivative of patior. Or, you might think to gain instant gratification to your passion is best. But we all know this track has nothing to do with patience whatsoever. In this way, patience remains a one-celled organism. No, what we want is to feed our passion and to grow it up big and strong. We want to care deeply for that thing. It’s in our nature.

Most of us would suffer much harm, be it spiritual, emotional, or physical pain, even die for some thing. And this is passion. It is also patience for we will sacrifice time, money, and energy, in order to wait for it. Whatever it is that I want so much had better be worth it, otherwise I will despise it and will lose any notion of patience. In truth, if you really cannot wait for it, then you must not really care or you must not comprehend its supreme value. You could say it’s a matter of integrity. Your passion is what you say you will stop at nothing to attain. Your patience is what you actually do to attain it. Just as belief equals action, so passion equals patience. How then will we act? How will we live? According to the measure of passion we have for it. How can a mother endure the pain of childbirth? It’s the love she has for her child. How can a suicide bomber commit an act of terror? Though brainwashed and heinous, it’s passionate belief.

Patience is a virtue, but it is only as virtuous as your passion for a thing. Take care, lest your passion be cheap or evil. But, if your passion is good and true, your belief glorious, be patient, or in other words, work with all your energy to see it through as if you can’t wait. Your waiting will not be worthless nor calm and collected; it will, however, be worthwhile and full of passion – blood, sweat, and tears. This is patience – your passion lived out moment by moment. Your patience is your passion. Now, go spend yourself for something truly noble.