Learning to Wait
by Steve Goodier
You might remember comedian Yakov Smirnoff. When he first came to the United
States from Russia, he was not prepared for the incredible variety of instant
products available in American grocery stores. He says, "On my first shopping
trip, I saw powdered milk - you just add water and you get milk. Then I saw
powdered orange juice - you just add water and you get orange juice. And then I
saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, "What a country!"
We live in a fast-paced world. We drive fast cars. We eat fast food. We live in
the fast lane. We want it now.
One old story tells of a judge who was in a benevolent mood as he questioned the
prisoner. "What are you charged with?" he asked. "Doing my Christmas shopping
early," replied the defendant."
"That's no offense," said the judge. "How early were you doing this shopping?"
"Before the store opened," countered the prisoner.
Few of us will go to those extremes to satisfy our desire to "get it now," but
we know what we want and we wish we could have it yesterday. We don't like to
wait.
Though there is certainly a place for decisiveness and action, there is also a
place for patience. Have you learned when to wait?
Wait for the sunrise...there will be another day.
Wait for guidance...learn to be still.
Wait for wisdom...it will come with experience.
Wait for growth...it happens in the fullness of time. Wait and be contented...it
is a secret to inner peace.
There is a time to act, but there is also a time to wait. Learn how to tell what
time it is, for great things can happen for those who learn to wait. Ralph Waldo
Emerson said it well: "Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience."
Steve Goodier
Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com is a professional speaker, consultant and
author of numerous books. Visit his site for more information, or to sign up for
his FREE newsletter of Life, Love and Laughter at
http://LifeSupportSystem.com.