Letting the Storm Rage On

By: Susan Allred

It's 11:23 p.m. and I'm just beginning to start on my bi-monthly blog post for ANWA.

Today I've finished editing and e-mailing a custom mystery game for 30 players to a client, turned in three college assignments, took my son to speech therapy, created a family debt-reduction program for 2016, and managed to have quality one-on-one time with each member of my family.  Soon, I will be able to check "Write ANWA blog post" off the list.

I tried simplifying my life in December.  I swear it!  I put my sister in charge of the family business, told the bishop that I wouldn't accept a fourth calling unless he released me from one of the others, and forgave myself for not completing my NaNoWriMo story in November.

A lighthouse keeper standing on the deck of his lighthouse during a storm.

I'm pretty sure my resolve lasted about three days.  The bishop was nice enough to release me from all of my callings.  Then he called me to the Relief Society Presidency.  I got rid of the business, but started working on the ANWA website and learning all the ropes (a task not as easy as you'd think --Thank you DeAnn Huff for all you do!!). I've started my final quarter of college - all four online classes, and I'm trying to finish the tediously slow process of finalizing my first manuscript before the end of the month.  NaNoWriMo eat your heart out!!

There are days when I feel as if I'm standing on the deck of a lighthouse in the middle of a raging storm as the waves threaten to overtake me.  Occasionally, I shrink away, feeling the spray of the ice-cold water splashing on my cheeks and overwhelmed by the roar of the salty waves above and behind me.

Those are the days, like today, when I take a few precious moments and have a humble tête-à-tête with my Father in Heaven.  Sometimes I have the luxury of kneeling down, in a quiet room, without little hands pounding on my door, or fingers wiggling under the crack of the door, begging to be addressed. Other times, I have a few minutes in the car when I turn off the radio, try not to curse at the drivers around me, and pour my soul out to the Man upstairs.

When I'm done, though, I'm never disappointed.  Those seconds I spend in fervent prayer always seem to  produce the calm I need to face the storm raging around (and within) me.  So what that I haven't had more than three hours sleep in the last two days.  Who cares that I'll probably be up for another four hours finishing up my reports for work.  It doesn't really matter that I've been thrust into a new calling that requires significantly more time.  I'm up for the challenge.  And quite frankly, I've got it much better than so many wonderful ladies I know.  I'll gladly take my trial.  And I'll even attempt a smile.

God is by my side making sure my footing is sure, and protecting me from the chaos that threatens to sweep me away.  Go ahead, let the storm rage on. I am right where I need to be, doing the things I should be doing.  Everything else is just background noise.