Patience

Ok, so I'm not the most patient person in the world.  It's one of those things I need to practice.  But today I had a good experience.

Today I dropped off my car at the auto body shop to be repaired. After the consultation, they called the rental car company to come pick me up so I could get a rental car.  I sat down and started to read a little book I keep in my purse called, "Teachings of the Buddha," by Jack Kornfield.  It's a collection of little excerpts on Buddhist teachings.  I earmarked the following:

Live in Joy,
In Love,
Even among those who hate

Live in joy,
In health,
Even among the afflicted

Live in joy,
In peace,
Even among the troubled.

Look within.
Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of the way.

So I was reading along, sometimes really struck by a passage I had just read.  I occassionally glanced at my watch and noticed that another 10 minutes had past.  At one point, the man who had called the rental company for me walked by and saw that I was still waiting.

"You're still here?" he said in amazement.  "It's been more than 30 minutes!  I'm going to call them again." I noticed that I was still calm and happy.  In most situations, I would have been fuming by this time, having angry thoughts about why people can't do their jobs correctly, or how my time was being wasted.  So, I was happy that I wasn't feeling that way.  The rental car guy showed up a few minutes after that. 

Then, while waiting for another 30 minutes or so at the rental car place for them to find me a car (still feeling pretty happy and relaxed and grateful for being in such a state), I sat next to an older woman with a cane and a stuffed animal, who appeared to be distraught.  The man behind the counter asked how she was doing.  "Oh, I'm just really upset with myself," she said as she looked for a Kleenex in her bag.  Her hand was shaking.  She started talking outloud in my general direction, as if to explain herself.

"They tried to give me a car, but when I got in the driver's seat, I just couldn't do it.  I'm just scared to drive a different car that's not mine.  I've never been afraid to drive before... I drive myself everywhere." 

"Oh, I don't blame you," I said.  "I know how that feels."  She then told me how she was going to have to ask her neighbor to come get her, but that she didn't want to do that because she hated to inconvenience him.  I saw her eyes start to water again.  I tried to think of something to say that would help.  "You know, I always hate to ask for favors, too.  But then I try to remember that people probably don't mind helping.  I know if someone asked me to do them a favor, I wouldn't mind.  And you probably wouldn't mind if he asked you.  So, he probably would be happy to help you."  That's all I could think of.

So then I just sat quietly next to her and practiced with compassion and letting go.

Take all fear
Chenrezig

Chenrezig
Letting go

I did this for about 5 minutes until the man indicated my car was ready.  I felt really in tune with her, and I felt like she was starting to calm down a bit and relax.  I hope this helped her.  It certainly made me feel grateful for that opportunity.  I was also grateful that I hadn't been in an angry, inpatient grump.  If I had been, I would have missed this opportunity to be of service to this sweet woman who needed a little bit of compassion.