I am the calm in the eye of the storm.

I am the calm in the eye of the storm.

Today, was "one of those days." I knew what I had to deal with and my stomach was in knots. My brain knew I could do it, but my body felt differently. I got the kids out of the house and off to school. I prepped myself for the day as I normally would, but used the silence for a moving meditation. No time to be still. I used that time already and could not be late. I left my house. My stomach churned. My being responded, “I am the calm in the eye of the storm.” 

Ahhhhhh. Relief. Serenity.

Serenity ran through my body in an instant. No. My body became serenity. Yes.

I am the calm in the eye of the storm.

Nice. Not “I am calm…” but “I am the calm…” I get it.

I arrived at the office early and peaceful. I had the meeting. I said my piece. No miracles occured. Just peace. Nice. Peace. Yeah, PEACE. I knew that I would blog about the experience.

So, let me tell you a story about peace. I am not sure who the author is. It is called, A Picture of Peace. I like storytelling time. Always did. I save stories, love fables and live for quotes. I look for the lessons in them all. I searched for this story because I knew it was the right one to tell today. When I was about to give up, I found it. I had saved it in February of 2000.

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest... perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture. Do you know why?

"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

Well ain’t that the truth.

I am the calm in the eye of the storm.

You know what? I bet you are too. Believe it. Say it. BE it.

INjoy,
dionne