Now that elections are coming, I think some P-words have to be considered. We can start with four: patience with politics, politicians and the people.

Patience is, of course, a virtue we have to practice everywhere and with everyone. In the first place, our life is a journey. We just have to be patient to be able to reach the end. We have to move toward the destination, without getting stuck at a certain point.

Patience is what keeps us moving. It's hope in action.

Besides, with all the challenges and trials, problems, difficulties and failures that we have to contend with in life, patience indeed is a virtue that has become indispensable.

Because of this, patience requires strength. To be weak-hearted works against patience.

Then try imagining God without patience. No one would have survived now. We would have become extinct long time ago. Thus, if he is patient, you can just imagine how much more we ought to be!

With politics, we have a special reason to be very patient. Politics is an indispensable aspect of our life. By its nature, it demands of us patience since we often get involved in raw issues and uncharted waters of social development.

We have to learn how to go slow to sort things out properly. We need to use a lot of restraint, holding our horses to allow reason and good sense rather than emotions to lead us in our discussions, consultations and dialogues. We have to be wary of the temptation to rash judgment, uncharitable thoughts, etc.

Politics is unavoidably like a contact sport. We cannot help but commit some fouls, all sorts of infractions and mistakes, big and small. We just have to learn to move on in spite of these hindrances. That's part of patience.

With patience, we can afford to be open-minded as opposed to being close-minded, gripped in biases and prejudices. We can manage to be sport, to focus more on the essentials and not to get entangled with irritating non-essentials.

Patience facilitates forgiveness, purification of memory, optimism and positive outlook.

It prevents ill-feelings and heals resentments. It fosters unity and reconciliation.

Then if we take into account how we are as persons and citizens, we have greater reason to practice the most exquisite type of patience when dealing with politicians.

As things are, politicians can come to us in many, endless forms and combinations. Let's be wary when we tend to see only their defects and mistakes. For sure, they have, and given the games they play and the pressures they bear, theirs can be bigger and worse than the average.

But it would be unfair if we just give all our attention to these negative elements. Let's try to be more understanding to them. And if we have the chance, let's help them to be truly Christian, to be men and women with real integrity.

Though we can have our personal choices, let's always be open and civil to everyone, no matter how in disagreement we may be with some of their views, or how we disapprove of their performance.

Let's be always kind in our thoughts and words with respect to them. They may be crooks, and we have more than enough evidence of this type of creatures, but they too are our brothers and sisters who deserve to be loved and helped. Let's never forget that they too can be real saints, if often disguised.

As to the people, another demanding type of patience is needed, since we cannot deny that they should be continually educated and motivated about their duties as the electorate.

We have to put more passion to our desires and actions to help one another to be responsible citizens and fair voters. We need to teach everyone the practical ways of prudence, anchoring it on prayer and due study and consultation.

For all these, we need to develop a more focused and abiding sense of cultivating this patience and prudence with politics, the politicians and the people.

Our problem is that often we tend to improvise on the spot and to give only ad hoc and stopgap solutions to problems. In the process, we make a lot mess, much like that of an emergency fire truck rushing with sirens and all to a burning scene.

Let's reflect on these P-words and draw some concrete resolutions.

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Fr. Roy Cimagala is the Chaplain of Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE) in Talamban, Cebu City. You can email him at:Email: roycimagala@boholchronicle.com