Iceburgs

Before enlightenment
chopping wood
carrying water.

After enlightenment
chopping wood
carrying water.

-Zen proverb ( sixteenth century)

Inner peace is not about the outside world changing; it's about the inside world changing.

This proverb reminds me other analogies I've heard about inner peace.

At a conference a speaker once talked about an iceberg as an example of inner peace. 90 % of an iceberg is under water. No matter what storms or waves may come the ice burg never flips.

Or like a deep lake. Inner peace is found at the bottom. The surface will feel the effects of the storm but most of the lake beneath remains still.

I continue to be hit with waves of grief. My body and emotions ride the wave but I'm trying to teach my spirit to be still.  I can hold onto deep truths as my strong foundation that anchors me. Storms and weather changes will  always continue; but I want to quiet my soul and remember that I am ok, I'm alive, I'm valuable. My God is always with me, he is my peace, my shelter, my refuge. Whether I'm riding another wave, living through another storm, seeing the winds of change or finding moments of calm waters may my soul be still and have peace.

I learning to trust life again...to trust myself...to trust in God.