Tag Archive for: challenges

Storms

I celebrated my birthday in lockdown yesterday.  One of my daughters posted this picture of me on my Facebook page, which she’d obviously kept hidden from me for a while! 😊

It’s from a few months ago, atop one of my favourite visitor attractions, the Wallace Monument in Stirling, Scotland.

As I recall, it was a relatively clear day. There was however a gale force wind howling all around the top of the Monument, blowing visitors in every direction.  As I looked at the photo, it occurred  to me – the wind was so strong that just to stand still and in order to stand straight, I had to lean into the wind.

Figuratively speaking, there are some mighty strong winds, whirlwinds even, howling all around us at this very moment in time.

I sense too that many may feel that they are being tossed to and fro in this perilous storm of global turmoil.

My invitation today is a simple one, consider what you need to do to stand tall – lean into the wind and figure out what you need to do in the current storm.

Step by step, little by little, you can and will get through this.

Like all real storms, the winds will eventually pass.

Life

In “A Tale of Two Cities” – Charles Dickens wrote these words to describe life in France and England in 1775, maybe they describe even better the conditions of our day.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.
It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity.
It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness.
It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
We had everything before us, we had nothing before us”

In our day, we are daily witnesses to a sweeping panorama into the depths of despair, then upwards to the glorious heights of beautiful acts of kindness that lift our spirits and souls once more.

For many of us, it is unlike any other time we have ever experienced before. Eventually however, I believe these challenges will pass.

Now is the time to consider – what is really vital? What really matters most? What do I really want? What is my purpose here on earth? What is the highest priority in my life?

Why not take some time today, to pause and reflect upon these simple questions. As you listen for that still small voice, reach out for the insights and inspiration. You may have to wait a while, but answers always come.