Imperturbability

I think Charles Allen said it first. "When faced

with problems which threaten to steal your

peace of mind, learn the meaning of the word

'imperturbability.'"

I heard of two artists who were asked to illustrate

peace. Each was assigned the task of depicting a

peaceful scene on canvas.

The first artist drew a beautiful picture of a

countryside on a warm, spring day. A soft sun

illumines green grass and bathes a picturesque

farmhouse and grazing cattle in its warmth. A

farmer walks contentedly behind strong plow

horses preparing his field for spring planting.

The picture is one of beauty and quiet

tranquility.

The other artist took a different approach. He

drew a majestic, rugged cliff. Gnarled trees,

twisted by years of violent winds, jut from the

craggy mountainside. Dark clouds hang low

and fierce while jagged streaks of lightening

slash across an angry sky. The picture is one

of violence, chaos and rage.

But as one looks closely, something else

becomes visible. There in one of the crevices

of the rocky mountain, tucked back just out

of reach of the wind and rain - a nest with two

small birds. Apparently unconcerned about

the impending storm, they appear calm, cozy

and peaceful as they patiently wait for the

turbulence to pass.

And isn't that the way it so often is? We may

want to be surrounded by peace, but storms rage.

Problems and pressures without threaten to steal

peace of mind within.

The answer is imperturbability: inner peace

that doesn't leave when circumstances change.

It's a peace that is greater than the problems of

life, built on assurance that the tempest will

finally pass, that we will survive the storm,

that we may grow stronger because of it and,

in the meantime, we will not endure it alone.

Imperturbability - it's the result of a peace that

passes understanding. For serenity is not

freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.

Your Life Support

~Steve Goodier

Each one has to find his peace from within.

And peace to be real must be unaffected by

outside circumstances.

~ Mahatma Gandhi