Our Perspective Effects Patience
 
It seems that during this pandemic everything takes more time.  It takes more time to clean the church, more time to shop or run errands, more time to prepare kids for school, sports, etc.   As I try to settle in as your pastor, I realize this transition is going to take a lot more time than my previous new assignments.  Most significantly, it will take a lot more time to learn people’s names since everyone is wearing a mask.  This is disappointing and frustrating.  It is a challenge to my patience and a reminder of what practicing patience is all about – perspective and gratitude.
 
When I get frustrated that it seems this pandemic is endless, and is challenging my patience, I think of all the people who are really suffering as a result of the virus.  There are those who are suffering from COVID-19.  There are many who have lost loved ones to the illness.  Many people are out of work or have limited hours or income due to the abrupt change in lifestyle and our economy.   There are countless people isolated in long-term care facilities, nursing homes or their own homes (my mother is one), who are unable or afraid to have visitors.  There are the health care workers who, in caring for others, take on added risks and often long hours.  I consider all of the teachers juggling how to effectively teach with safety protocols or online or both.  Many parents are overwhelmed by the extra work of managing their children’s learning at home, or for some, the struggle to gain access to reliable internet connections.  These are the people who bear the real burden of the pandemic. 
 
One of the most foundational spiritual practices, and one that is helpful when experiencing impatience, is offering an act of gratitude.  An act of gratitude is simply saying thank you to God for some concrete blessing.  This is easy since everything is a gift from God.  We simply need to take time to stop, recognize the gift, and say thank you to God.  This can be accomplished in seconds and done throughout our day.
 
For what are you grateful today?  Thank God for that. When you are feeling impatient, thank God for something.   Maybe you can even thank God for the gift of the inconvenience?  His blessings are everywhere, even in challenging times.
 
Getting settled in as your pastor will take time, more time than in prior experiences.  It will especially take a lot of time to learn names and faces.  Still, I am thankful.  I am thankful to God for so many blessings.  I am thankful to be your pastor. I am grateful for being called to be your pastor in these ever changing and challenging times.  It is a blessing.  When I am feeling impatient, I am going to thank God and pray for those who really struggle and suffer during this pandemic.  That awareness helps me keep things in their proper perspective.  It helps with patience.
 
“Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.”  ~ Saint Teresa of Avila
 
Yours in Christ,

Father Dale