Scary Storms can Come Suddenly

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day in Jerusalem. Although a little on the chilly side, being outside was pure pleasure. The air was crisp and fresh, the sky was bright and blue. It was inspiring.

What a difference a day makes.

This morning I awakened to a dark and foreboding sky. Moments ago the thunder and lightening started. The rain is coming down fast and furious. The wind is blowing. It is an all out storm. It seems not only unfriendly outside, it feels down right scary.

It reminds me how fast the tides of change can come in any life. Things can seem fine one day and suddenly catastrophe strikes. Life can be cruising along normally and an unexpected crisis appears. The welcoming beautiful environment can become hostile without warning.

A relationship can end against our will. We can be fired or laid off, losing our livelihood. We can lose someone close to us to death or disease. Our children can experience difficulties that cause us worry and anguish. Storms can and do blow into our lives - we don't have any control over that. Storms will come.

Our only choice is how we deal with the storms that we encounter. We can rage against the storm, resent and hate the storm, and pout about the unfairness of the disappearance of the friendly sky. Or... we can take a deep breath, say, "OK" and surrender to the fact that the storm is here, must be endured, and will eventually pass.

Today, I'm staying inside, where it's warm and safe. I'm going to do some writing and make some phone calls. I'm forgoing the outing I had planned. I'll wait for a clearer day - if possible, before I undertake my outdoor activities. I'm going to make a big pot of spaghetti sauce to have for dinner. Something warm and soothing is delightful on a dark, stormy day. I'm pulling inward a bit - to marshal my strength, focus my energies on what can be done - even with the storm happening - and make the most of the situation.

That's all we can ever do in a stormy life situation. We have to do what needs to be done, while adjusting to the reality of the situation. Pretending their isn't a storm will not help us. Working with, through and/or around the storm is our only option. Well, at least it's the only option if we want to keep progressing in life. We can certainly choose to stay stuck and buried in the events that storm into our lives.

There is nothing wrong with taking shelter from a storm. It is important to nurture and protect ourselves during challenging life events. in fact, it is really important to do so. It is not a cop-out to stay inside during a storm. eventually we will have to venture out, and sometimes we do have to go out into the thunder, lightening and rain. We don't however, have to expect ourselves to run head long into the storm without thought and preparation. We can take the time to evaluate the situation, make a plan and move forward with it.

Do you have a storm raging in your life? Are there dark clouds looming on your horizon? Lay in some supplies, make a plan to weather the storm and surrender to the process. This too... shall pass.