I heard a friend in recovery talk about dynamic patience. My brain could not wrap around it. At first, that seems like an oxymoron. When I think of having patience, I think of being static. Stuck in “wait” mode—until something happens to take me out of waiting. But, patience is not necessarily static, being stuck, or waiting.
DEFINITIONS:
Patience: 1) bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; 2) steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. 3) not hasty or impetuous
Static: 1) of or relating to bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium. 2) showing little change
Dynamic: 1) marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change 2) of or relating to physical force or energy. 3) an underlying cause of change or growth.
Aha! There it is—Dynamic: an underlying cause of change or growth.
Patience is not my strong suit. I didn’t grow out of that child-like characteristic of impatience well. My first instinct to having patience is to resist. I want to DO something to make it happen now. As my husband says, “I can’t wait to have patience.” (ha ha)
But, patience can be dynamic: “Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity—this being the underlying cause of change or growth.”
Pain is the motivator. An agent for change. I wanted God to change me. I just didn’t want Him to have to take away the drinking part for that to happen! Please take the pain of the consequences of my behavior without me having to change, ha ha. Then, in the end of my drinking, I realized that if I kept up this pace of drinking, I might die. Now, that’s a static condition!
I would say that in my sobriety, I have learned to be active in my recovery. That is the dynamic part of it for me. Partnering with God in the process. I surrender that which I cannot control and seek to affect the change I can in myself. Just those two things alone can keep me sober. But I need YOU too. That’s where meetings come into play.
Dynamic patience for me is when I sit in a meeting quietly being patient to hear what I need to hear today. I can let the change and growth happen one-day-at-a-time. You are telling me your story of pain, too. God speaks through you directly to me. Magic happens.
Show up.
Listen up.
Grow up.
“One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living reality is through the furnace of affliction.”
Tim Keller
