The weatherman said it was going to snow.  We don't get a lot of snow around here, so I eagarly looked forward to the day.  At first it was pretty; beautifully formed flakes wafted downward.  Then the wind began to pick up.  The flakes were no longer wafting downward.  Things were no longer calm outside.  The wind was blowing mercilessly and individual snowflakes were blasted against the windowpanes.  You could hardly see two feet outside the the front door.  It was a blizzard.

While many of the people with me expressed concern about the situation, the power and perfection of what was taking place outside impressed me.  Just as there are often storms in nature, there are often storms that rage inside all of us.  But nature's storm seems to always work in harmony.  As I watched the winds whip the trees back and forth, I realized that these trees were willing to bend when necessary, allowing the wind to move through them causing little or no real damage.  As the trees swayed, they retained their strength, as if to say, "This too shall pass." 

As the wind ripped leaves and small limbs off the trees, I could imagine the trees and the wind agreeing to create this encounter.  "It's only temporary," I heard the trees say.  "It will make new growth possible.  As a result, I will be stronger and more beautiful than ever."  I heard the wind say, "Yes, and I hardly ever get to blow this hard.  It will be a joy and a pleasure to exercise my strength."  The river said, "Yes, and when all this snow melts, my banks will be filled for the coming spring."  

One thing I know is, there will always be storms, and it's up to you how you manage the energy of the storm.  Just as the trees chose to allow the wind to pass freely through them,  we can allow trouble nd adversity to pass through our lives like welcome cousins.  They come to visit for a while but soon leave.  There is a sense of accomplishment when you have weathered the storm, persevering while dealing with each little hardship.  There is a sense of freedom when you face problems with the realization that, however it turns out, it's ok.  Knowing yourself well enough to know that you aren't going to freak out when the obstacles come, recognizing that warm, calm centeredness within yourself, and welcoming change because of the growth it will bring are nice feelings.  There is a certain amount of strength involved, but more often there is just acceptance and surrender. .