Significance in the Storm
We all have a season when the air turns heavy and thundering clouds roll in, choking out the light.
Instinct tells us to hide and protect ourselves. We find shelter from the storm, but we may not realize how vital it is to be present in those scary moments—to stay aware and grounded as the storm moves around us, over us, and through us to our core.
The Storms We Don't See Coming
This could be a literal storm in our lives, like a tornado or a hurricane. But often it’s something else. It’s an unwanted change that damages our daily lives and how we see ourselves—like an illness, a divorce, a loss of a job, or a loved one in harm’s way. These storms can create a different kind of heaviness and darkness that linger, even after the sun extends its first warm glow across the horizon.
I understand these storms and the pain they cause, and not just because I live in Tornado Alley. I’ve watched family and friends go through everything from life-threatening illness to deployment.
I live with chronic illness myself. Even today, I am wrestling with a heaviness that is hard to shake. It’s easy to feel isolated in these moments, but so many of us share similar journeys. Even if our struggles are unspoken, there is a solidarity among us. Hope wells up inside us when we glimpse people with quiet courage, braving the storm in their own way. They may not know the outcome, but they trust themselves to meet the moment.
The adage is true: courage is contagious. People can inspire us like a beacon in the darkness, lighting the way on stormiest nights.
Maybe it also helps to remember that every experience is temporary. The winds can only howl so long before the air stills again, and Nature holds its breath. Eventually, a hum of crickets chirping in the distance brings a soft sigh of relief. And at the end of the storm, we are stronger.
A Few Thoughts for the Darkest Nights
I don’t want to miss a chance to encourage you—not because I have it all figured out, but because I’m on the same journey with you. I’m taking little steps through the darkness, recovering from the storm, and it’s my privilege to walk this path with anyone else who is struggling.
Here are a few thoughts that echo in my mind tonight:
Look at yourself through the lens of kindness, just as you would with any other human.
Take a moment to acknowledge what you've been through and what you still face. You're doing the very best you can.
Suspend judgment and give yourself grace. Honor the myriad decisions and small steps you've taken to get to this place, which have shaped who you are in this moment. (And you're pretty great.)
Yes, you may be sheltering in the midst of a storm. That's the safe thing to do. Just remember that you are stronger than the damage and wiser than the chaos. You will find your way into the light.
"A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on her own wings." — Charlie Wardle
The Logbook Prompt
⚓Here’s a writing prompt to help you breathe into this moment in your life:
If your current storm had a sound, what would it be? Write it down. Then, describe the sound of the first bird singing after the rain stops. Let's listen for the gentle breath of dawn together.
