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.

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, and even today I found myself wrestling with challenges, fear, and a heaviness that’s hard to shake. It is easy to feel isolated in these moments, but if we only knew how many souls are on this journey with us, or who have found a way through it.

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.

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, write down the sound of the first bird singing after the rain stops.

"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