Letting the Tempest Bring Out the Music
There is a legend of a German baron who at his castle on the Rhine, stretched wires from tower to tower hoping the the winds might convert them into an Aeolian harp (or wind harp).
As the soft breezes passed over the castle — no music was heard.
But then one night, there arose a great tempest. The hills and castle were smitten by the fury of the mighty winds. The baron went to look out upon the terror of the storm and sure enough, the Aeolian harp was filling the air with music that rang out above the clamor of the tempest.
The harp needed the tempest to bring out the music.*
The Tempest Brings Out the Music
Some of the most powerful stories come from people who have endured the worst storms. Those stories are the songs that are heard as we interact with the people in our lives. The change in us doesn’t happen automatically but as we surrender to the forces that come against us, they can mold us into people of beauty.
It requires, however, a willingness to focus on the response we make in the storm. When you and I lean into our storms, our character can be strengthened and our rough edged filed off. The strong winds create the tension we need to grow stronger and emerge with even greater inner beauty than we had before.
Quotes Worth Reflecting On
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. — Mahatma Gandhi
All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best things in the world for you. — Walt Disney
Something very beautiful happens to people when their world has fallen apart: a humility, a nobility, a higher intelligence emerges at just the point when our knees hit the floor. — Marianne Williamson
Final Thought
Whether we like it or not, adversity and stormy weather comes into our lives. It takes many forms and is never easy to handle. It forces us to dig deep, find support from others, and persevere when it’s the last thing we want to do.
Viktor Frankl who knew some of the worse storms in the concentration camp he endured said this:
Even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, may grow beyond himself, and by so doing change himself. He may turn a personal tragedy into a triumph. — Viktor Fankl
When have you seen the tempest bring out beautiful music in your life?
When have you seen the tempest bring out beautiful music in someone else?
*Source: Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman
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