Holding On Through the Storm
Have you ever noticed that storms rarely arrive one at a time? Sometimes life seems to wait until we're already carrying a full load before adding one more thing. A challenge at work. A difficult conversation. A health crisis. A family concern. A loss. A change we didn't ask for. Suddenly we find ourselves standing in the middle of a storm we never saw coming.
Recently, I watched a short video of a bright red cardinal perched on a branch as a powerful storm rolled in. The wind whipped that branch back and forth, tossing it in every direction. Rain pelted down. The tree bent under the pressure. But the little bird refused to let go. As I watched, I couldn't help but think, That's what resilience looks like.
The cardinal wasn't denying the storm. It wasn't pretending the wind wasn't strong. It wasn't demanding that the weather change. It simply held on.
Lately, I have found myself reflecting on that image. Like many people, I am navigating several storms at once. Challenges that require courage. Situations that call for accountability and growth. The tender experience of walking alongside my mother as she enters hospice care. Moments of uncertainty. Moments of grief. Moments that ask more of me than I sometimes feel prepared to give.
And yet, I am reminded that storms do not reveal our weakness as much as they reveal our strength.
In Unity, we often talk about the Twelve Powers—those divine capacities already present within us. During calm seasons, they may quietly rest beneath the surface. But when the winds begin to blow, they rise to meet the moment. Strength helps us endure what feels unbearable. Faith reminds us that we do not yet see the whole picture. Wisdom helps us discern our next right step. Love softens us when bitterness would be easier. And Zeal gives us the energy to keep showing up even when we are tired.
Alongside these spiritual powers are other qualities that help us weather life's storms: courage, resilience, perseverance, and grace. Courage isn't the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward while fear rides in the passenger seat. Resilience isn't avoiding hardship. It is discovering that we can bend without breaking. Perseverance isn't about perfection. It is about taking one more step
when we would rather quit. And grace is the gentle reminder that we do not have to carry everything alone.
The truth is, none of us can stop every storm. Life simply doesn't work that way. But we can choose how we meet them. We can stay grounded in Spirit. We can lean into the strength already within us. We can trust that even when the winds are fierce, something deeper remains steady.
Like that little cardinal, we can hold on. And perhaps, when the storm finally passes, we will
discover that we are stronger than we ever imagined—not because the storm was easy, but because something within us proved stronger than the storm itself.
As I move through this season, that is the truth I continue returning to. Not that life is free from challenges, but that we are never without the spiritual resources to meet them. Strength, faith, wisdom, love, courage, resilience, perseverance, and grace are not distant ideals. They are living powers within us, waiting to be called forth when we need them most.
With gratitude and love, Rev. Bobby
P.S. Join us this Sunday at Unity of Louisville as Rev. Dr. Gerry Boylan shares an inspiring message titled "I Am Continually Fed by the Energy of Grace." In times of challenge and in times of joy, grace is always available to nourish, guide, and sustain us. We would love to see you there.
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