Constructive Impatience

We all experience many frustrations in trying to love and
 help our wayward friends and companions. One of the most
 frustrating things about helping others is, it takes so much
 time, and so much love, and so much seeing them as they
 truly are -- and they STILL have to choose it. Until they
 choose -- firmly and consistently -- to see themselves as
 they truly are, we don't see the improvements we want.

 This frustration is shared even by God. But God does not
 say, "I'm frustrated;" God says, "I'm impatient!" This cosmic
 impatience is a direct result of the fact that, as long as they
 persist, people's confusions and delusions are actually creat-
 ing suffering on an ongoing basis. Therefore, if anyone were
 even a little empathetic, they would be impatient to end the
 suffering of their children, their friends, and all those they love.

 Two kinds of impatience

 But the problem is, human beings have a destructive tendency
 to turn impatience to their disadvantage, as an expression of
 egotism. And therefore, if we were to compare Divine impatience
 to human impatience, we would find that, oftentimes, the impa-
 tience of human beings takes on a much darker color. In that
 darker color, impatience actually obstructs the liberation that
 it is purportedly "about." For example, we may feel, "I want lib-
 eration so bad, and I am so angry about my limitations, I can't
 even get near my goal." A bad mood is just not open enough,
 you see?

 Through self-destructive impatience, people get SO into delaying
 their own liberation. We push it SO far away by the very means
 by which we try to achieve it. That's why, dear friends, we must
 constantly remember that there are two kinds of impatience:
 There's a kind of impatience or frustration that is of spirit, and
 a kind that is of ego. The one helps; the other hinders.

 Therefore, although it is understandable that we are impatient,
 we must also be, insofar as possible, helpful and constructive.
 We must remain ever mindful of the kind of orientation that is
 required for maximal effectiveness for our purpose of relieving
 our beloveds from their suffering. So we need to discern be-
 tween that impatience which is constructive, and that which is
 not; that impatience which expedites, and that which actually
 slows; that impatience which shortens evolutionary time, and
 that which lengthens it.

 If we really wish to help, we MUST tune to God-ness, and not
 merely dwell on problem-ness, half-empty-ness. For the more
 we recognize the God in others, the more profoundly those
 we're trying to love will respond according to that recognition.
 And as you can see, that considerably eases our whole process
 of blessing, of interacting, and loving.

 How long must we be patient?

 The question we all have -- and this is the matter to which impa-
 tience addresses itself -- is, "How long?" How long will it take be-
 fore patience itself is rendered obsolete? Because truly, if and
 when your recognition of others combines with their recognition
 of themselves in such a way as to actually elevate them to true
 I AM consciousness or higher self-identification, then they will no
 longer seem to require your patience, but rather, will become a
 source of enjoyment.

 How long that takes depends, in part, on the extent to which you
 can resonate in others that higher consciousness and recognition.
 To the extent that your conviction about them is positive and
 stable and strong, then the time you need to remain patient is
 reduced. But to the extent that your recognition of their Divine
 nature is unstable, or their recognition of their Divine nature is
 unstable, to that extent it takes much longer for them to get out
 of their patterns of suffering and delusion. And you will be forced
 to be patient for a much longer time.

 Better than hope

 Also, we need to recognize that there is something better than
 hope that we can bring to life: KNOWING. Thus, instead of hoping
 our loved ones will turn around, it is better to KNOW that they will.

 The word HOPEFUL, in the sense to which many people relate, is
 actually a conviction of not is-ness. In that sense, it is only a little
 better than despair. We tend to say, "This person is really messed
 up. And most likely, they will remain messed up for a long time.
 But I HOPE they won't."

 Instead, if you see your friend or your child messing up, say to
 yourself, "I know this person will see the light." Maintain faith con-
 fidence in true knowing. It is true, actually, that no matter how big
 a ne'er-do-well a person seems to be, or is; no matter how stub-
 born they are, they WILL in fact see the light and be free -- eventually.
 That knowing is helpful, even when liberation does not seem to be
 near. It helps them now. And, it will be helpful tomorrow, tomorrow,
 and tomorrow, as long as you hold such a view.

 So, continue to tune your impatience for its constructive colors.
 Enjoy and employ the value of that which could be called healthy
 impatience.

The writer of this article, David Truman, is the founder of the Living Love Fellowship. If you want to read more of his writing, visit the Soul Progress website.