Following what’s below the link for the rest is Wisdom from Yesteryear II
Neal A. Maxwell said: “In life. . . patiently stretching our sweetness is sometimes not enough; in certain situations, enjoyment must actually be deferred. A patient willingness to defer dividends is a hallmark of individual maturity. It is, parenthetically, a hallmark of free nations that their citizens can discipline themselves today for a better tomorrow. Yet America is in trouble (as are other nations) precisely because a patient persistence in a wise course of public policy is so difficult to attain. Too many impatient politicians buy today’s votes with tomorrow’s inflation.
But back to personal relevance of patience which, among many things, permits us to deal with the unevenness of life’s experiences. I recorded the substance of this speech about three months ago while driving to a stake conference in Elko, Nevada, across the rather barren, but beautiful in its own way, stretch of desert. During the drive, it was brought forcibly to me that the seeming flat periods of life give us a blessed chance to reflect upon what is past as well as to be readied for some rather stirring climbs ahead. Instead of grumbling and murmuring, we should be consolidating and reflecting, which would not be possible if life were an uninterrupted sequence of fantastic scenery, confrontive events, and exhilarating conversation.
Patience helps us use, rather than to protest, these seeming flat periods of life, being filled with quiet wonder over the past and with anticipation for that which may lie ahead, instead of demeaning the particular flatness through which we may be passing at the time. We should savor even the seemingly ordinary times, for life cannot be made up all of kettledrums and crashing cymbals. There must be some flutes and violins. Living cannot be all crescendo; there must be some dynamic contrast.
Clearly, without patience we will learn less in life. We will see less; we will feel less; we will hear less. Ironically, “rush” and “more” usually mean “less.” The pressure of “now,” time and time again, go against the grain of the gospel with its eternalism.
~ Neal A. Maxwell, The Inexhaustible Gospel, (Provo, Utah) 86-87
“from Speeches 218 UPB, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, 2004)
