Serenity Amidst Life’s Storms: Finding Inner Peace

The word ‘serenity’ comes from the Latin “serenus” meaning “clear” or “calm”. It’s a theme found often in philosophical and spiritual traditions to illustrate the importance of inner peace. My dad was a veteran of the Italian campaign of WW2, fighting his way up through Italy and into the rest of Europe. He often shared a story about their regimental Chaplain. Dad and his comrades had taken refuge in a home near the front line to rest. As the Chaplain settled near a window to read one of the lads suggested he was making himself a target. The Chaplain looked up from his book and calmly replied, “Son, if the good Lord wants me, he’ll take me. Until then I’d like to read.” Dad said there was a noticeable calming effect on the men. Some of them soon settled into sleep. The Chaplain was engaged in a form of meditation and likely prayer. He was taking some time to find serenity in the middle of chaos and destruction. I’ve always found in the midst of chaos it’s easy for my monkey brain to run wild taking me in useless directions of thought. It’s not until I plunk the monkey into the corner lean into calm that I can actually start to make sense of a situation. In the last few years there has been no shortage of people raging at the events of our times. It’s easy for us to get caught up and join the rage. Thoughtful responses are not found in rage. They are found by leaning into serenity and considered response. Like the Chaplain, I find serenity in reading. I also find it in prayer and meditation. Calming the mind to listen to my quiet inner voice goes a long way to relieving stress and fear. <a href="https://shadowspublishing.medium.com/serenity-amidst-lifes-storms-finding-inner-peace-dca991ce2b9a">Read More</a>