A monk is still with legs folded neatly together. His face is not smiling yet it emanates content. Eyes are closed in an eternal state of zen. His calmness makes time halt and flow together as one. Worries fade away. Peace.
If patience was a tangible object in the world, this monk would be the incarnation. He lives the joy and the serenity of the wait.
Life has lectured me to portray this monk. Life also has taught me that it is hard to be one. Despite of my buzz cut hairstyle aptly placing me in character, I probably will never be able to paint this picture of patience. A quick temper and immediacy are my reigning attributes. I do not know the meaning of zen when asked to wait. I do not want to be kept waiting.
For me, patience is an on-going battle. The actor in play is not a monk but a warrior. It is a constant struggle of holding it out, of not being tired, of keeping spirits alive. I realize that this is okay. Patience need not always be easy. In a war, the most important thing is to believe that victory can be attained. In the midst of battle-scars and uncertainty, it is resiliency that claims the prize. In this regard, patience is not just characterized by the ease of the wait. It is more than being at peace in the process. It is also the desire and the belief that the best is yet to come.
Some of us are monks, the epitome of patience, capable of trusting in the wait and what is to be. But for those who are not, as long as we believe that there is far more in store than that of today, I believe we too will be okay. Our patience lies in this unwavering hope. It is this hope that brings about our patience.
No comments:
Post a Comment