Pride and impatience during Bible study

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Hello Everyone, I am in Lenten Bible study for part of my Lenten penance. I have a really hard time and am looking for suggestions to help me overcome my vices. It’s in the evening and I am not a night owl, so I have prayed about that. last night at the study I was so inwardly agitated, impatient and prideful, because the study was going beyond it’s two hour time. I have a family at home. Seems like the people talking were long-winded and overly verbose. Part of it is I realize too is that I am jealous of them for various reasons. Any suggestions on how I can deal with this situation? Thanks, Liseux
 
I sympathize and am very interested in what answers and suggestions people have.

I try to really p(name removed by moderator)oint what is irritating me because thinking about why it bothers me seems more fruitful than just boiling in agitation. At first I thought maybe it was people who tell too many personal stories, so I was resolved to do less of that myself. Then I realized I actually love hearing some people’s stories, so that wasn’t totally it.

The long-winded behaviors I think are driving me most crazy are:
People who talk down to the rest of us
People who tell stories that have no connection to what we are talking about and seem like gossip
 
My first advice, it is impolite to run a scheduled event longer than the scheduled time period. People do have other commitments and we who facilitate things like Bible Studies need to be respectful of the time.

Speak to the facilitator, group leader, “The last meeting was scheduled to end at 7 PM. At 7:30 PM Joe and Sally were continuing their conversation. Next class could you please review the time with our attendees, let them know that the class ends at 7 PM and that means we need to wrap up conversation around 6:50 in order to allow closing prayers.”

Sometimes people are simply unskilled at keeping a meeting on track and on schedule. The facilitator could suggest “The class does end at 7 PM. If some of you would like to continue the discussion after class, we can meet at Starbucks on the corner!”

If the facilitator does not know how to or does not want to end the class on time, then, at the time class is supposed to be over, quietly gather your things and leave.

To deal with your feelings toward the people who made the class run long, forgive them. Pray for them “Lord, please bless Joe and Sally. Help me to be more forgiving in my interactions with them.”
 
Is the group too large? Would conversation benefit from forming two groups out of the one?
 
Yes! That’s it! I shall pray for them and me to be forgiving. Thanks!

As for the time, I might talk to the moderator, who is a good lady. Problem is, most of these people are night owls and don’t see a problem with going over. I know most of them.
 
For example, some who have a prayer request give ALL the details instead of hitting the highlights; some called for prayers just try me as well, as it’s late, and the person could say in 100 words what she says in 400. Oh, I am just venting, but I really will pray for these people and myself. That’s why this is my Lenten penance because I know I need to work on giving people the time of day who annoy me.
 
Are the prayer requests things you are praying for during the meeting or praying for eachother between meetings? Maybe it could be something they write down and the facilitator takes a picture of that weeks’ list then sends it as a grouptext. That’s what we do and it helps with time issues.
 
liseux said:
. It’s in the evening and I am not a night owl, so I have prayed about that. last night at the study I was so inwardly agitated, impatient and prideful, because the study was going beyond it’s two hour time.
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This is not prideful, but you have a family to take care of, right! its our responsibility ,time ,care, love and concern also may be added as in 1 Timothy 5:8 And whoever does not provide(time ,money love ,care etc) for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
liseux said:
Seems like the people talking were long-winded and overly verbose. Part of it is I realize too is that I am jealous of them for various reasons. Any suggestions on how I can deal with this situation?
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Pride ,jealous is one thing and praying long petitions ,discussion beyond the stipulated time is one thing ,i think your confusing or mixing up both things, since they are free birds ,they might not having young kids or the elderly,to take care off, they might have some one, to take care of them,you should request the concerned person to stick to the time schedule .well dealing with vices and the 7 deadly sins, we all have some sins or the other ,which dominate us ,we need to pray for the Grace ,virtues of humility and practice them daily ,be imitators of Jesus and Mother Mary for that. God Bless
 
I agree. This is their Lenten group, and I was invited. After Lent, I am out of there. But hopefully, I will have gained some discipline and grown spiritually.
 
liseux said:
I am in Lenten Bible study for part of my Lenten penance.
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😂

I’m sorry but that made me laugh. Anyway, why don’t you just leave when you need to? All these sorts of gatherings I’ve ever been to people commonly leave early and show up late for all sorts of reasons.
 
It is a bit funny, and some member of the study who know me well know that I have said this and why. I feel like if I leave, I’ll be giving in to my pride and not have learned patience. It was 10-15 minutes late. As you can see, I am working on this.
 
Ike, I like how you think! Yes, but then I feel like I would be giving up on learning something that God wants me to learn: humility, patience, valuing what others have to say. I also have a problem with thinking I know all this material and could just stay home. I have to work on that, because I realize also that I can learn from other peoples’ perspectives and the Holy Spirit.
 
Hello Everyone, thank you for all of your suggestions and help. I learned much from your responses. Also, watching EWTN this morning, Fr. John Paul mentioned praying to get rid of envy. I will double up on that! He also said that suffering is a way to atone for sin, so I can unite my suffering at the Bible study, atone for my sin, and grow spiritually. Thinking about offering up my desires to be there and learn with help to bear it. Lest some of you laugh again about the suffering part- yes, it’s painful for me to sit there for two hours when I am usually with my family in the garden, yard, or just outside this time of year. It’s springtime in Texas. So, I can offer this up. Thanks!
 
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