A couple times a week, a man — probably in his seventies — stops his car near our house. He pulls over and waits. After a few minutes, he drives off.

The first time I saw this, I thought the driver was lost. The next time, I assumed he was reading something.

But I discovered a pattern: the only time he stops is if it’s before 7:00 AM. Right before the top of the hour, he’s back on the road.

So what’s going on?

He’s being patient.

On these days, the driver is picking up a friend at 7:00 AM. If he gets into town early, he waits.

But he doesn’t wait in the driveway. He doesn’t pull up and sound the horn.

Instead, he waits at a distance — so as not to rush his friend — and he arrives right on time.

Waiting down the street is a little odd, but it’s done out of generosity. It’s not just saying, “no rush.” It’s creating the condition where that tension is absent.

* * *

Where do you wait? Patiently out of site? Or at the door, tapping your foot, looking at the clock?

Next time I’m about to arrive early, I’ll think of the carpool driver, and I’ll practice generous patience.