[Businessmtg] Patience

[logmark at comcast.net]

Al-Pals, 

  

In the way-way back Patience used to be attached to excitement. 

Taking my gal to the prom started months before the dance. Our 

Saturday-night movie date (hand holding in the dark!!!) was 

days away when my breath started to shorten. 

  

Through the years Patience started taking on some darker tones. 

Awaiting the end of my military service (90 days and a wake-up!) 

Knowing that a bill was coming (patience = looming disaster.) 

Being without a date or mate was particularly stressful, especially 

if this went on month after month (when will I find her....) 

  

Well find her I did! First wife, baby, house, etc. Then affair 

after affair. Forgiveness after forgiveness. Finally abandonment. 

"Boyfriend" won out. The years of alone, then alone waiting for 

life to start again. Then the love of my life just showed up. 

Two daughters. Drinking. More drinking. Again abandonment. Kripes! 

When was life going to stop delivering all these damned lemons???!!! 

  

Al-Anon helped me to learn how to squeeze some good out of the 

horrid. It helped me to look to powers of the spirit rather than 

wants of the body and mind. It also lead me to studies of spiritual 

ways where I tapped into things I had missed in decades past in my 

first readings of the old books. 

  

And there I found that it is not Patience which begins spiritual 

recovery, but rather  Endurance. Endurance! (Worth saying out loud!) 

Patience could be called "Endurance Light." All the waiting, but 

without the pains. Endurance - now that describes it! It is the 

trusting of my Higher Power's will for me even through the pains 

of changes I can not understand. 

  

Spiritual Endurance followed by G-d's Graces gave me a glimpse 

of how He really worked for me. Put in the time (despite the 

unknowing.) Put in the work (despite the challenges.) Put in the 

trust (without assurances.)....and then the glowing door appears! 

  

Even then the choice remains. Stay or pass through. 

  

I can only relate that having seen these doors and made the choice 

to pass into His care (Step 3) I no longer have to endure and seldom 

need to exercise even tidbits of patience. My cup doth overflow. 

  

Hugs, 

Jerry 

- 

[P.S. Always wanted to use "doth" in some sentence! Yippee!]