Great wisdom often lies hidden in deceptively simple language. Scottish author George MacDonald's At the Back of the North Wind contains this little gem among many:
"The lightning and thunder,
They go and they come;
But the stars and the stillness
Are always at home."
Lightning and thunder come and go in the literal sense of weather changes, of course, and they are also familiar metaphors. In our personal lives, things may move along "as usual" for a while, but sooner or later a storm bursts in: a family argument, an accident, a ravaging illness, the death of someone we love. Beyond our own horizons, we are saddened to hear about upheavals in the lives of our sisters and brothers around the world: wars, famine, political oppression, refugee crises, and more. Tempestuous forces may sometimes clear the way for us to break free of limitations, gain courage, and come more fully alive. But there's no doubt that they are emblems of impermanence and can lead to terrible loss.
Dramatic storms tend to stand out in our memories. It's rarer for us to recall the stars and the stillness that outlast the wild whims of weather. This week, be on the lookout for a steady, sure vantage point from which you can sense the stars firmly situated in their celestial home. Rooting yourself in stillness fosters serenity, calm, and clarity like that of a clear night sky -- qualities that last even when storms are raging.
Blessings,
Your Spirituality & Practice Team
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Patricia Campbell Carlson
Darren Polito
