On Life 57 – Work and Patience – December 20, 2014

Let’s continue talking about patience.

   Patience is of great importance: for all the matters of life require patience. Work requires patience that it might be done well. So does dealing with people: that we might communicate correctly and effectively. Whoever wants to realize his dreams and ambitions has to be patients. Likewise, man needs patience to do good deeds. He has to implant goodness, and wait patiently till it sprouts. As we look upon life, we find it full of people who work patiently.

   Patience is an important attribute of prophets. They carried out their missions, all confident that God was helping them. Righteous Joseph is a role model for patience. He endured the injustice he went through until God recompensed him. He became the Pharaoh’s minister and the hero who saved Egypt and the world from starvation.

   There are other great examples of whom life is full. They were able to overcome hardships and become great. Among these was a young man who started a trade at the age of twenty-three, having bought, together with his partner, a sore at New Salem, Illinois. Yet, he failed. However, he retired, but failure recurred!

   He embarked on a political career, attempting to win a seat at the General Assembly. Yet, he failed, too. At last, he became a General Assembly member for Illinois seventh county from 1847 to 1849. He never despaired. Rather, he continued working and striving to become the president of the United States of America in 1861. He was only fifty-one then! This is Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s greatest presidents who spoke out against the expansion of slavery.

   Through his patience and diligence, Lincoln became president of his country. Thus, he is a role model for many great people in all the fields of life.

   Anis Mansur, famous columnist, writes that the great, “have one attribute in common: the ability to work patiently. Not one great person lacks in the ability to work hard and patiently. He endure life and hardships for his political, philosophical, and ideological principles.”

   To conclude, we should understand the secrets of life in order to live it quietly. We have to persevere in order to attain success and fulfill the mission for which we were created. Each person has a mission of which he is steward. God will hold him accountable for it. Do not allow despair or failure defeat you. Rather, cling to work and patience, making your light shine to others.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center