Pressures, Patience, and Preparation

It would be wonderful, in a way, if everyone could move directly toward his intended objective without delay or disappointment⎯without any slowing down or setback. But few have ever lived that way. And surely we would not develop much if everything were always easy.

We all have things to overcome. For most of us there are financial or personal problems⎯difficult decisions to be made⎯decisions that pull us in more than one direction. Sometimes there are early responsibilities: marriage, family, other obligations.

Then, too, there are the ever present pressures: social pressures, status pressures, pressure to acquire things we cannot afford⎯things which would enslave us in debt and which, though sometimes desirable, are not really necessary⎯and when we begin to feel the burden of the price we must pay, we don’t enjoy them as much as we thought we would.

Unessentials can slow down the journey and greatly reduce our enjoyment. All values should be looked at with farseeing good sense, lest we enslave ourselves and let mere things become master of the man. If we are carrying unnecessary equipment, unessential obligations, we cannot move so freely or easily either in preparation for life, or in performance. We need to pace ourselves, to “run no faster” than we have “strength and means.” There are some things for which we must be willing to wait, and not be shortsighted in settling for something second best or far inferior, when by willingness to work and wait we can arrive at greater competence and more of the lasting values of life.

It takes courage and character and common sense to avoid extravagant or unwise commitments, and to invest time and effort in preparation for the future. But the surpassing satisfaction of approaching our real potential is far more important than speed, more important than insisting, right now, on something unessential.