I've been in the calm business for a long time. As I looked out the window of my Grandpa's 77' Chevy Suburban I saw a blur of headlights and taillights on Cicero Avenue. He took one look at me and said,
"Boy, you're so quiet. I wonder what goes through your mind".
I never asked to be like this. In school teachers would comment on my report card that I'm a good listener and how inciteful I was for my age. I learned that as long as I don't open my mouth much then people thought I was pretty wise and this got me pretty far.
Even in college I saw students freaking out about their test scores as if their whole life flashed before them while I just remain calm. I saw those tests as more of a blood test. You are wither negative or positive. Some studying helps, but when it comes down to it you either can do it or you can't.
There is no use losing your mind over one test.
They asked me,
"How can you remain calm."
I answered,
"It doesn't really bother me."
And that's what is was, a matter of keeping your mind. You've heard of the clam before the storm, but have you ever heard of the calm during the storm. I'm not talking about the eye of the hurricane in the middle of the storm. I'm talking about the steady calm that continues no matter what storm is going on.
This is the calm of the deep currents of the sea. From above the sea looks vicious like it wants to devour us. Just listen to an angry sea. You want to run away and hide but there is no place to hide. The storm will rip apart anything you choose to take as shelter.
We really live on the edge. The earth is spinning at 1600 km/hr at the equator creating an ocean current due to Coriolis forces. At the same time the sun and wind effects the currents on the surface. It looks like a storm, but in the deep currents there is no storm.
These currents are in the same ocean but they act more like a conveyor belt. It's like a giant bathtub mixing the warm water and the cold water. That belt is like a superhighway for zooplankton. For them the storm on the surface is nothing. Live remains the same calm and a continual circle of warm changing with cold and the currents flow and the plankton enjoys the ride.
Loggerhead turtles will ride the currents from Japan to Mexico across the Pacific Ocean. Storms don't bother these guys they have calm. They know if they lose their cool they can't survive. We can learn a lot from sea turtles in the way we ride the storms of life.
Inside of us is a stream like the deep streams of the ocean. This stream flows steady undisturbed by the storms on the surface. Some do not even really these steams of consciousness exists. Most go about life on the surface thinking every conflict and diversion is the most urgent battle for survival. These storms on the surface are real but they are only a test of what we are made of deep down.
As a teacher and a father I am put on the surface test every day. Last night there was a storm with thunder and lighting. My son was scared and came to our bed. He tossed and turned the whole night and I woke up three times with his feet in different places.
This doesn’t change anything I still have to be at school in the morning and smiling ready for class after class after class. When kids come talking out a storm so I can’t get a word in edge wise there is nothing I can do but ignore them. I want to explode because I haven’t slept well, but my duty is to remain calm.
The calm does not come from the outward circumstances or from the fact that if I explode then I am out of a job. The calm comes from inside. It is called the fountain of life. This water does not come from some well or spring. It comes from inside and flows out.
The source is trusting the bag of dust we call a body to the Creator and smiling and giving thanks for today. There is power in thanksgiving and power in praise even when things don’t seem to go right.
This week I spent each morning running laps. It’s the first time I did this in years but it has been more of a spiritual breakthrough than a physical breakthrough. Each lap I take I look in the mirror and I smile and laugh. I think I use more energy laughing than I do running.
I don’t mind because running doesn’t get me anywhere but in circles. The laughing sets me straight to lead each day with resolute calm even when the storm comes in.
This calm is the equanimity of the soul. This calm is the anchor or a ship and the pull of the deep ocean currents. This calm is sea turtle that rides the oceans currents waiting and trusting with glee.
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