The Virtue of Patients

Aristotle taught that one of the 12 characteristics of Virtue is Patience... 

If patience were the sole characteristic of virtue I would truly be an unvirtuous individual. 

When we received our mission call to Barcelona, Spain back in August 2020, we were hopeful that by the time our original departure date of January 2021 rolled around the COVID pandemic would be over and we would be in our piso (apartment) and strolling to the mission office about 2 km (1.25 miles) away.  Then, when our start date was officially delayed an additional three month, I was an unvirtuous soul.

When March 1st finally came we were eager to begin our MTC (Missionary Training Center) training bright and early on Monday morning at 7:00 am.  We, along with around 4 other couples, were all going to receive the same training remotely in the comfort of our own homes.  However, there were a lot of glitches with the ZOOM connections, and other technical translating challenges issues that delayed the beginning of our training.  It was a mildly frustrating start to our mission.  I remained an unvirtuous, yet penitent, person.


Friday, we finished up our training to be the office couple and find ourselves ready but still unable to travel.  We Zoom-ed with Hermana Warnick, who we will be replacing when she returns home in the beginning of May, and we will be able to begin to do some office work remotely.  With a 9 hour time difference that means our days will begin at 6:00 am. While we are delighted to begin serving, the early start serves to heighten my desire to get to Spain more sooner than later.  It appears the near future will still see me remain un-vir-tu-ous!

Aristotle, however, also cited Courage, as a characteristic of Virtue. 

My little neighbor, Landon, who used to visit Nana's Little Free Library nearly every day last year, is suffering through his last few hours of life as a patient in Children's Hospital.  His courage and the courage of his parents is immeasurable.  He is an example of a virtuous soul.  I asked the folks at Little Free Library to rename our library after him which they promptly did and then I also got this plaque to put on the bench.


His courage is an inspiration and a reminder that...

I can wait.  

For the time being, we all have "time being", here on earth and should appreciate, cherish, be thankful for, and use it wisely.  

A few months is nothing to be impatient about.  It is the virtuous thing to do...

Comments

  1. BenMarch 15, 2021 at 7:04 AM

    From one blogger to another :) Welcome to the club of gaining paitence by waiting for/on God. I think you and Margo are filled with virtue! even if patience does not come easily

    ReplyDelete

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