“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.”

-Hal Borland

I once asked a friend what the difference between ignorance and apathy was. He replied, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” The difference between patience and persistence I think, is the difference between waiting and acting. The patient one waits and sees and trusts- it’s an act of faith, in a way.  The persistent one makes attempt after attempt, working every angle, holding on to ground gained, and after falling down 6 times, gets up for the 7th.

They are related, but not the same. Patience is more passive and receptive, persistence more active and outward bound. Both can achieve great things.They are complements to each other.

In our spiritual lives, sometimes we need the repeated attempts of the persistent spirit, that keeps on keeping on. “G!D helps those that help themselves”.  And on some days we need that great patience that waits. As the Course in Miracles teaches, “The miracle comes quietly into the mind that stops an instant and is still.” Both have their place and time.

Where do you need to practice patience today? Where do you need to persist?

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Harold “Hal” Glen Borland (May 14, 1900 – February 22, 1978) was a well-known American author, journalist and naturalist. In addition to writing many non-fiction and fiction books about the outdoors, he was a staff writer and editorialist for The New York Times.

Joe Laur is a father, husband, naturalist, executive, consultant, and a lowly rabbinic student. He can be reached at joe.laur@godsdog.net.