WEATHER REPORT

Severe storm warning.

Resist the temptation to shelter inside.

Go out into it,

and bring calm steadiness.

It will change the storm.

– Steve Garnaas-Holmes

This quote gives us much to ponder as we find ourselves in the turmoil of many storms, most often out of our control. We have catastrophic meteorological events in many cases. We are currently experiencing political unrest that can leave us feeling chaotic and confused. In this age of instant news from around the world, it seems that there are very few, if any, places to go that would seem safe and have some semblance of peace. Unfortunately, the storms are not going away. We live on a planet of vibrant beauty interspersed with dynamic episodes of overwhelming, natural catastrophic power. Wherever there are communities of people, political unrest is possible and, more often, probable. Attempting control in these environments can trigger emotional and psychological struggles that seem impossible to overcome. While these storms are inevitable, the true challenge lies in discovering the source of a ‘calm steadiness’ that allows us to engage with the world rather than retreat from it.

Of course, the immediate temptation is to “shelter in place” and do our best to avoid as much of the fallout as possible—to protect our portion of the universe. But does that do anything to improve the situation or alleviate the turmoil that, if we are honest, is not going to dissipate? Our friend Steven says to go into the storm and bring “calm steadiness.” This is a noble ideal, but one surrounded by fear. To move beyond that fear, we must first deconstruct the very quality that displaces it.

What does calm steadiness really mean? Is this an acquired talent or something certain people are gifted with? It can be both. There are those people we meet who have an inviting calmness that gives a refreshing feeling of peace and stability. Somehow, they have overcome the struggles you and I cannot seem to avoid. They almost seem divorced from the reality we are experiencing, yet their presence is still inspirational. However, further investigation reveals these pillars of strength have indeed experienced times of fearful uncertainty and doubt about how to move on beyond commotion and catastrophe. They are aware of something beyond the immediate circumstance. This is their gift to themselves and to us. But where did the gift come from, and is it still available?

To understand where this ‘gift’ originates, we must look toward the spiritual framework that defines peace not as a feeling, but as a formal promise. Peace is mentioned between 40 and 100 times in the New Testament of the Christian Scriptures. It is apparently an important concept. Here is a sample that is filled with hope, even though Jesus is experiencing abandonment from His followers:

32 “Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will all be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] — John 16:32-33 (Amplified Bible)

The storms of life will not go away; Jesus was gracious enough to tell us that. He also used Himself as an example of how we may have perfect peace even when we are in the lowest valley. Those who seem to be gifted in peace are simply living out the gift in ways we do not yet understand. It is beyond worldly wisdom. In other scriptures, we learn peace comes through forgiveness, healing, and proclamation. Jesus used all these methods to impart peace. How you receive it will be unique to your life situation. He exhibited “calm steadiness” in the storms of those he touched.

This is the awareness of those who offer us feelings of refreshment and peace. This peace is not an isolated experience but a fresh condition of well-being. They are the “storm changers,” and their desire is to insert peace into your storms and my storms. Peace that meets all needs comes from the Divine Source, which understands the needs that arise in any circumstance. The next time you encounter someone living out of refreshing “calm steadiness,” allow them to lead you into the well-being they enjoy.

Ultimately, “calm steadiness” is not the absence of the storm, but the presence of a grounded, internal quiet that remains unshaken by the wind and waves. By shifting our focus from the external chaos, we cannot control to the internal peace that has been promised to us, we transition from being victims of our circumstances to being “storm changers” ourselves. When we embrace this gift, we don’t just survive the turbulent seasons of life—we become a source of refreshment and hope for everyone we encounter along the way.

Respectfully Submitted,
George Shunk
Park Street Brethren Church