Thirty-six Patience Blocks

It’s taken me the better part of a month to piece all these simple, tiny blocks. All the while I’ve wondered about their name. Individually, they’re not taxing in any way. I think I could make the little two-patch blocks that are their root in my sleep (and I probably have). After that, you add a cream-colored rectangle to one side and another rectangle and a black square to the other, press and it’s done. Maybe where patience is required is in the fact that you can’t really do much with two or three of these blocks. You need a few dozen at least before they start forming neat little furrows (as above), concentric diamonds (below), or other interesting patterns. It does take a measure of focus and endurance to keep plugging away when the task becomes routine. It reminds me of Alma 37:6: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”