The Calmness During The Storm

I'm SO glad the position in the picture above isn't apart of Yoga X. But, ASHTANGAS! DOWNWARD DOG! CHAIR! TREE! Those are just a couple of the position you are to do during the Yoga X video of the intense workout series P90X. I've been doing the series and one of the major workouts, believe it or not, (at least for me) is Yoga X. Beastly! Yoga X is crazy because it makes you stretch those muscles you don't normally stretch. Not only is it beastly, but it's the longest DVD of them all!

I can't remember the name of the exact position, but its the one where you stand on one foot and stretch the opposite leg out in front of you. The goal is to hold the tip of your toe on the outstretched leg! CRAZY! On one hand, I'm doing Yoga X and watching the P90X'ers on the tv and I'm jealous (unashamedly admitting). On the other hand, I'm looking at the television screen and wondering, "Is this for real?!?!?!?!" How is it this person is stretching like this....WITH EASE! The phrase that sticks out in my mind repeated by Tony Horton is, "Look at the Calm During The Storm." So I stopped (while I was supposed to be doing the exercise) and notice just how RELAXED and AT PEACE these people were while doing what I believed to be an extremely difficult exercise. On the outside, at least, they were doing the exercise EFFORTLESSLY. On the inside though, they were probably struggling to hold it (if so, it definitely didn't look like it). Another example of this concept is the duck. While we see ducks in their element, on the water, they're just gliding across the water. However, we do not see what their paddling efforts look like with their feet! They're just gliding graciously across the surface of the water, but underneath... they little feet are going 140 kicks a second!

All that to say, I tried the exercise and it was clear that I was struggling. Not only could I not stand up, but I was sweating and trembling like CRAZY! I didn't do a good job of displaying "Calmness During The Storm."

Question: What is your posture during the storms of life?

Do you panic? Do you shut down? Do you pray? Do you eat? Do you seek wise counsel? Do you tell everybody our situation? Do you journal? Do you spaz out on everyone? What do you do? There should be a sense of Calmness During The Storm. There is scripture that reference this and what our posture should resemble as well as our protection, which should give us the Calm During The Storm.

Psalm 107:29 He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed.

Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shad from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall.

What's your response during the storm?

Spiritual Principles Taken Away From P90X.