Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Luke 10:31-34
“Patience is the discipline of compassion because through patience we can live in the fullness of time and invite others to share in it. When we know God is offering salvation to us, there is ample time to be with others and to celebrate life together.
As long as we remain the victims of clock time, which forces us into the rigid patterns of time slots, we are doomed to be without compassion. When we live by the clock we haven ot time for each other: We are always on the way to our next appointment and do not notice the person on the side of the road in need of help; we are increasingly concerned about missing something important and perceive human suffering as a disturbing interruption of our plans; we are constantly preoccupied with our free evening, free weekend, or free month and lose the capacity to enjoy the people we live and work with day in day out…
Patience helps us to give a moment of rest and joy to the driven executive…Patience allows us to take ourselves less seriously…Patience makes us loving, caring, gentle, tender, and always grateful for the abundance of God’s gifts.”
Henri Nouwen in Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life (New York: Image Doubleday, 1983) 98-99.
This post pegged me. I am so driven by clock time. Whereas, the compassionate and generous person may be largely unproductive in worldly terms. Perhaps you are realizing the same thing? If so, read it again.
God grant us patience so we can live in the fullness of time. Give us eyes to see and respond to the opportunities around us. Awake us from our preoccupations so we enjoy life day in and day out. Amen.