Persistence

persistence |pərˈsistəns| 
noun
firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition: "companies must have patience and persistence, but the rewards are there."
the continued or prolonged existence of something: "the persistence of huge environmental problems."
(Apple Dictionary) 


I read recently that to accomplish anything worthwhile (to learn the piano, to become proficient in a sport, to learn a new discipline) requires 10,000 hours. Seems a bit excessive. But, think about it. If you devote yourself to your chosen goal then at one hour a day it will take you just over 27 years. At two hours a day 13 years. At 8 hours a day, about three-and-a-half years. You get the picture. Though 10,000 hours seems excessive at first glance, it's probably about right. Undergraduate students take four years to complete their degree in the USA (though it's more like five or six for many). To really excel requires a great deal of work. Daily work. Not unlike 10,000 hours. And then you are ready to go on to graduate school. PhDs take at least five more years. So, to become proficient enough to teach your subject requires at least nine years of practice. Nine years of asking the questions, searching for answers, knocking on the door of your chosen field. Persistence required!

"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." Jesus 
This saying of Jesus is very well known. I suspect that it is often used in a simplistic way to refer to getting what you want. Just ask for it and you will get it. In days gone by I heard sermons where earnest preachers pleaded with their congregations to just keep on praying and God would give you what you want. (Was I one of those earnest young preachers? My memory's not what it once was.) The better ones urged persistence as the key. The worst announced a quick fix way to get anything you want. The "health and wealth gospel" it was termed. (I do hope I was one of the better earnest young preachers!) Those who interpret the saying as a call to persistence in spiritual practice are closer to the spirit of the saying.


We can all accept that if you want to learn a trade, say becoming a skilled carpenter, it takes a long apprenticeship, with a lot of hard work—back to the 10,000 hours. Yet, in spiritual practice many assume an easy road, a swift attainment of spiritual accomplishment. This strikes me as odd. Meditation looks good. The benefits to body, mind and spirit seem proven. I'll give it a go. Ten minutes first day (that was a stretch!) Ten minutes second day. Five minutes third day. Day four a useful excuse arises. By week two more sporadic. By week four the benefits to body, mind and spirit and not that noticeable. Why not try something else? After a month, maybe a total practice time of three hours. Only 9,997 to go!


Clearly I am being overly simplistic and perhaps not very kind. But, I think the point is made. The drop-out rate of those who begin a spiritual practice is very high. In our culture, we have tried to address it by the over-production of books and CDs and DVDs, many proclaiming the new, sure way to the goal in the speediest possible way. Don't be taken in for a second. Listen to the saying of Jesus (and every other adept of the Way). Keep asking, searching and knocking. You'll get there. Eventually. Enjoy the journey!


+Ab. Andy