The Will

“When one is confronted with seemingly insurmountable odds,
he must and will consolidate all of his internal energies
in order to effectively combat his adversities.
The consolidation of man’s internal energies in times of
adverse circumstances is called the WILL.
The WILL is not a hereditary asset, but an acquired asset.
Since man’s WILL is being continually tried,
there must be a yardstick whereby the effectiveness of his WILL
when confronted by adversities in his environment, may be measured.
Man is shaped and shapes his environment.
When man reaches that coveted stage of abilities
where he shapes his environment rather than becomes victimized by it,
his WILL is indefatigable or dominant.
This is what men strive for – TO HAVE THE WILL TO HAVE WILL!!” ~  Kenneth L. Owens, Sr.

Storms

The storm is out there and every one of us must eventually face the storm. When the storm comes, pray that it will shake you to your roots and break you wide-open. Being broken open by the storm is your only hope. When you are broken open you get to discover for the first time what is inside you. Some people never get to see what is inside them; what beauty, what strength, what truth and love. They were never broken open by the storm. So, don’t run from your pain — run into your pain. Let life’s storm shatter you.
The beauty of being shattered is how the shards become our character and our marks of distinction. This is how we are refined by our pain. When the storm rips you to pieces, you get to decide how to put yourself back together again. The storm gives us the gift of our defining choices. You will be a different person after the storm, because the storm will heal you from your perfection. People who stay perfect and unblemished never really get to live fully or deeply. You will not be the same after the storms of life; you will be stronger, wiser and more alive than ever before!
You see, it is our pain that connects us to all of the most beautiful parts of life. Love is such a marvelous pain. Birth, death and suffering show us the essence of life and teach us so perfectly what is most important and precious. We are all made complete by our pain. When the storm of life comes howling and raging outside your window; when you look that tempest in the eye, there will be a quickening in your instincts. In that moment you will burn with aliveness. Your total intelligence knows exactly what to do, because you were made to weather the storms of life. You will survive, and both you and the world will be transformed.
“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm is all about.” ~ “Kafka on the Shore” ~ Haruki Murakami

**There is indeed “a time and a purpose” for the storms we face in life. I am more certain of that each day. Storms can make us or break us.  They are tests, and we must go through them to get to the other side of our pain before we can fully appreciate their value. Someone wisely said, “A lesson continues until it is learned.” The blessing is, storms don’t come to stay, but to pass. It is not how long they last, but how strong our faith in “the God of the storm”– who speaks, “Peace be still when He wills.
Be Blessed, Ebony G.