The Day of Trouble

A meditation on adversity

It may come on slowly,

Like a siege of hostile

Weather drifting in off

The sea,

*

Or as a lightning strike

Thrusting suddenly from

A cloudless sky.

*

Either way, it separates

What was from what is,

*

So that they seem to be

Two lives, one of which

Has gone astray,

*

But the day of trouble is

A transient who tries the

Soul before departing,

*

So do not falter, neither

Be afraid in the midst of it,

For at a certain point

Within you, it will fall away,

*

And you will recall it

Only as the pathway

That led you to that

Silent space.

Author's Note

When beset by troubles, be still and rise to that highest point within you.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

The storms make us stronger. All things pass. When the going gets tough, grit your teeth and know it won’t last. Your author’s note is sound advice John.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Thanks,Chris. Looking back on my life and those of others, I have found that inner struggle accomplishes little. But if one can rise in spirit, troubles will often go away.

[AYVID N]

Indeed, every storm within or without will inevitably lead to a stronger, calmer self and had we not known the storm, never been in its vortex, we'd never know how to fight it and emerge stronger. After every great tribulation, trivialities of life stop to matter, more and more. Only the deeper and more abiding retains its pull.

Loved this meditation today. It helped me to think better over my own present situation.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, D. Your telling me it helped has made my day.

[Lorry]

I really like how this one grows, right up to the ending in silence.
It is true that each thing sent to test us can end up feeling so personal, that it is easy to think the worst, that we are jinxed and give up, yet we can all look back on times of adversity and I'm sure most people think they get more than their fair share of adversity, but we can also stand up to it and when we do, we sometimes realise it was only there to challenge us all along.
And yes, I agree that silence is the best prize too! 😊

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Lorry. You get my drift. If we regard adversity as some sort of personal affront, then any personal benefit that might be obtained from it is nullified. If, however, we use lemons to make lemonade, we have gained something.

[Dave Brown]

the older I get, the more I shrink, making that highest point within me, that much easier to reach
Just one more blessing to count, at least on those days when I can still remember how to count

[John the Baptist]

I don't count anymore. Computer got me out of practice.

[Kaylor Mason]

This is good. When my troubles come, they usually come in terms of weeks or even months-how I wish I could have just one day of troubles.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. I agree. It would be so nice if your troubles just let you sign off at the end of the day and departed, leaving their business card.

[Starbaby]

Sage advice between these lines. Often troubles get us so down that we can't see how to get past them, yet we always do. We find a way to persevere and get through to the other side as a stronger person.

[John the Baptist]

Or as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Thanks.

[Matthew Kult]

Vibrantly imaged, poetically advising. Uplifting.
Great read and write

With love,

Matthew

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. Glad you noted the uplifting part. That was the purpose of the work.

[JessyJacob]

Hi how are you?? John. .

[John the Baptist]

Not bad, Jessy. And you?

[JessyJacob]

I am fine.

[JessyJacob]

Trouble days are gone just getting better. How about you.

[John the Baptist]

Had some trouble with my computer, but things are ok now.

[JessyJacob]

Ok. Hope everything goes smoothly.