RSS
Home
In the face of fear know this too shall pass
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
After attending two Buddhist retreats called Vipassana, I had learned that no matter what is happening, good or bad, 'this too shall pass.' This phrase is premised on the notion that all things in life are impermanent. Everything changes. At the time I learned this lesson I had no idea how much it would help me just a few short years later.
I was on a 28' power catamaran traversing the Gulf of Alaska. The boat's captain and I were the only crew on board. We knew from checking the NOAA station that a large storm was approaching. We had already spent an unexpected two days in Icy Bay waiting for a large late winter storm to pass so we were anxious to cross the broad, often treacherous, gulf to get closer to our home port of Homer, Alaska. We also did not want to rush the crossing and get caught by a rapidly approaching low pressure system.
Risk trumped security and we decided to make a dash across the gulf. We calculated that, if the weather behaved as predicted, we could reach a protected bay near Cordova, Alaska before the storm's worst punches found us. The weather, as we learned, cannot be entirely predicted.
The gulf was turbulently choppy as waves slammed into the boat. Water banging loudly against the hull made the boat seemed smaller and I felt more vulnerable. Waves grew taller as the skies darkened. Rain pelted the windshield along with the sea spray. We had to carefully climb each wave and the task was exhausting. We took turns at the helm so we could manage the waves and watch for the hull crushing dead-heads common in Alaskan waterways. Dead-heads are water logged trees or logs that bob dangerously below the surface of the water. Difficult to see in good weather, they are hull puncturing projectiles in bad.
After four hours of tension, I felt the fear take a strong hold of me. I began hyperventilating and told the captain I wanted to put on my survival suit. I had had enough. I was terrified. Trying to control the anxiety, I told myself, 'This too shall pass. This too shall pass.' It helped until I realized it would take another five to six hours to reach a protected bay or inlet. My mind was in fear's grip.
Unable to reign in my wild thoughts of a sinking boat and a horrible death, I looked up and saw two sea gulls emerge from the darkened sky. They drifted casually in the midst of the storm. Over the middle of the tossing sea, during one of the most frightening experiences of my life, these two little birds floated... not a care in the world. I silently thanked them and began to breathe normally. Their calm presence reminded me that 'this too shall pass.' And it did.
Not long after the birds sailed into my life, the storm abated. Within an hour the sun was shining; though dark clouds lurked on the horizon as the predicted storm approached. We easily made it to Cordova, Alaska.
Even when you are in a situation that you feel is a trap, know that 'this too shall pass.' Everything changes. Use your thoughts to find peace. Change your thoughts to find action out of the trap. Focus on what you want to create. Magic happens when you control the emotions and channel energy to that which you want in your life.
Bliss & blessings to ALL,
Caryn Colgan
Coach, Karma Artist and Playshop Leader
