“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Romans 8:25
Whenever I embark on a household chore, I have a small struggle with myself. It is a necessary maintenance that we all have in our homes, and since my mind is always full, the clarity of order around me is an essential condition for my habitable space. In her podcast ‘The curious history of your home’, Ruth Goodman charts the evolution of once time consuming domestic tasks, such as, say, dishwashing, which was once achieved through grit and hard work, to the modern day dishwasher. Maybe these mundane, but now less time consuming tasks, are really an instruction in patience. Few of us, I imagine, intentionally wake up in the morning, with the intention of honing our moral armour, but patience really is an essential part of any success that we hope for in other aspects of our lives.
Nature commands us to pause, as the light now shines brightly through Spring days, the trees sharing their new blossoms we can gaze in wonder, just pause and enjoy. It asks nothing of us in terms of doing, but really it’s simply about being. My lack of patience is often driven by time. Recently, I have had many passing conversations with neighbours and friends about how the days are so rapidly progressing, with winter almost a trail in the mist, particularly as we experience waves of rising temperatures. Though the magic of nature’s changes is that they are not driven by controlled and exacting timings, but by a natural process of change, such as first daffodils, budding daisies and new goslings. However, nature’s changes, unlike our sense of planned time, seem to take place when timing marries, with the sense of gentle patience. This observation might allow us to take the same time in our days, where we can accept pause and waiting despite the time pressures that feel heightened by the phones in our pockets.
The button or automation, might have saved us from days spent consumed by menial tasks, but on the other hand the ready convenience we have at our fingertips to complete tasks perhaps robs us of our ability to practice patience. The way this convenience has penetrated our daily lives, with digital tools working to make time more efficient and money saved, is beginning to have a lasting impact on our patience. There is a chartered shift to our mindset, which has been illustrated by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) research spanning the last ten years around our abilities to process and apply information. We have moved from self-directed activity, in which we are using the web as a tool for research, to the now constant, passive, consumption of social feeds. This surely has a detrimental effect not only on an ability to understand information, but also on our patient ability to actually question and enquire as someone else now does the work for us. The patient trait of questioning seems an important trait for us to keep within our culture of daily notifications.
Often in the process of working alone, there is a sort of impatience, the intensity of work surrounds me without the distractions and alliance provided by chats with colleagues over the kettle. But for me in those moments, a household chore that provides me with much joy is that of lighting the stove for it is like a return to earth, and a nice way to slow my natural impatience. There is a simplicity and inherent analogue nature at the heart of composing a fire. Laying the kindling, gathering the logs and lighting a fire is a patient ritual, but in this ritual, there is no feeling of impatience to complete it as soon as possible. There is something that removes this task from the uninviting to do list, as it brings me into the moment and a true enjoyment of the task at hand.
Maybe there is learning in this moment of thoughtfulness. We mostly all agree that the uncertainty of the world affects us all in different ways, but with uncertainty comes a knowledge that there is so little we can control. So perhaps the answer lies in slowing down, being drawn back to looking around us, and, for me, the lighting of a stove is a temptress into that moment of patience.
Why Choose Charnwood?
For over 50 years, Charnwood has been a leader in crafting high-quality wood-burning stoves. Our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction ensures that we offer products that not only meet but exceed expectations. Whether you’re looking for a traditional stove or the advanced Skye E700, Charnwood has the perfect solution to keep your home warm and spark a moment of patience.
For more information or to explore our range of stoves, visit our website or speak to an official Charnwood dealer for guidance on what will best suit your space and other requirements.