116: The Deserter

Monk Gyatso:   It is a common weakness to lose patience and try and force things to move forward in an unnatural manner.  Step by step is how we learn in school, and how we take on more responsibility in life.   

We need to have patience with ourselves and not become discouraged, and we need to have patience with our teachers and not become frustrated.   

Aang’s lack of patience here leads to his burning a friend.   

This is a good symbol of how things can get out of control when we try and force something too quickly.  Line upon line, and precept upon precept, we will learn and progress as long as we are teachable and humble.

Another lesson from this chapter is that there is a time and a place for all good things.  Even if something has plentiful goodness, it can be twisted to something not good when done out of order, or out of proper time and place.   

In certain places we show respect, and we control our actions more strictly than we must in others.   

At certain times and seasons of life, we will need to control ourselves in ways that we can at other times express ourselves.  These principles need to be followed for our whole lives.   

Commandments, counsel from parents and other trusted adults, and experience help us understand when and what types of actions are appropriate.   

Do not become impatient, with time, and in the proper order, all good things will be realized.  We must remember that, as demonstrated in this chapter, there can be serious consequences to doing things out of order.