This past month I was in contact with my eye doctor. I have been removed two cataracts which is not a serious matter in itself. But what goes into this operation is what confuses me.

I often wondered why doctors call us patients. I've noticed that doctors are not patient, so they expect us to be patient too. I need to work on that.

I had two eye surgery and was separated for two weeks. It took a month to process. After surgery, it will take another 4 to 6 weeks to find the right glasses I need to read.

Talk about patience!

However, I need this process, I had to take what you came up with. I must say that I am more impatient today than I was last month.

The first time I went to the ophthalmologist, he arranged for me a time of 9.15. No problem. Grace Mistress of Parsonage took me 15 minutes to make sure I would not be late.

An hour later, I finally went in to see the doctor. I think, on the other hand, he is trying to improve patience in my life.

On the first visit, I had to wear a mask, and there is no problem for me. If it makes other people feel happy, so be it. I'm not happy about wearing a mask.

As I waited for my appointment, the reception area began to be filled with new patients. An old boy sat next to me, and we shook our heads. I went back to what I was doing.

In a few minutes, I begin to smell something disgusting. I didn’t want to look at this guy next to me, but I ignored that before he sat down, so I decided I could no longer take that smell.

I got up to prepare a drink of water, wash my hands, and sit down.

And then, within a minute or two another man came in and sat two chairs away from me. They had a set so you wouldn't have to sit next to someone. Smiling and nodding, I went back to reading.

In a relatively short time, I began to smell that smell, and it seemed to get worse as I sat there. I don’t like to make noise or embarrass anyone, so I stayed there as long as possible.

Then I got up to get another drink of water, washed my hands, and walked across the room to another chair. This time an elderly woman came in and sat two chairs away. I nodded again, smiled, and went back to reading.

Then I smelled it again. This would be absurd. I understand an old man smells so bad, but I was confused as to why this woman smelled like this.

This time, I didn’t know what to do. I've stood up twice before, and the third time draws your attention.

I was wearing a mask, so I could not figure out how to smell anything. It should protect me from the outside elements, no matter what that means.

Then I thought, if my mask could protect me from the odor, what would make me think that it could protect me from certain floating germs?

As I was thinking, a bad thought came to my mind. This idea cannot be true, I told myself. But what if the smell does not come from the outside but from the inside of my mask?

That idea was hypocritical, and I wanted to get rid of it as soon as I could. But you know what it's like; the thought will bother you until you pay attention to it.

Cautiously, I pulled my mask down, took a deep breath, and almost died. That smell became my spirit.

The problem was that my mouth was so close to my eyes that the doctor would work on it. Something had to be done before the doctor could call me.

As I was thinking about this, a nurse came into the room and called my name and took me to the operating room. My prayer at the time was that all these masks worn by me, the nurse, and especially the doctor would really work. I didn't want the bad smell to come out of my mask to get into the mask of the doctor working for me.

I offered a quick prayer, and before I could say "amen," the doctor came in.

I tried to keep my mouth shut as much as possible, hoping that the closed mouth and more masks would work.

The doctor had just finished the operation, and as he was about to walk out the door, he turned and looked at me and said, "Are you sure you haven't eaten breakfast? It smells like you ate trash this morning."

My patience went down there.

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."