Is the calm after the storm...or in the eye of the storm?

I've had limited mobility for a couple of days. I injured my right foot by being a clutz (I walked into the base board of the wall in a rush to let someone in the front door...funny, I know...). Anyway, I've had to take an easy with jumping up and running around like I normally do.

I have been exercising and have been paying more attention to what I am eating. This week has been interesting because there is a plethora of sweets and candy that everyone is also handing me from Halloween. I am being conscientious about how much candy I'm eating...all in moderation.

Last night was dark, rainy, and dreary. I braved it to the pool all by myself...literally. As I was getting changed in the locker room there were 35 kids swimming laps in the pool (I had time to count them when I came out of the locker room). The swim team was finishing up their practice and the noise of the water was impressive.

The kids got out of the water, left the pool area, and then I was the only one left to swim. I swam my laps with a lot of labor as my body and my mind weren't as excited as in times past. A few times I stopped after swimming a lap and took a short rest. I noticed that the quiet made me feel ackward at first.

I've been struggling with a lot lately. Most recently I've been handling the near death of the mother (a little over a week ago) almost six months to the day that my father died unexpectantly. Yesterday would have been my father's 69th birthday. I have also been challenged in my faith and have been growing. I am practicing the spiritual disciplines. I am becoming more confident in who I am in Christ and this is manifesting itself in my character. I am being transformed into a calmer person, which is a really good thing for me.

As I was reflecting in the pool yesterday my mind was drawn to the calmness that comes after the storm. The danger is that sometimes the calmest part of the storm is in the eye of the storm...there is more to come. I began to think of all the ways that I have been attacked over the past few months and how I am ready for the calmness that comes after the storm.

Maybe I'm in the eye of the storm, and not in calmness afterwards. Whatever the case may be, I am focused. I know in whom I believe. Satan will not have a foothold in my life whether is be phyiscally or spiritually. I am beginning to see how inter-related the two are and how imperative it is to guard my heart and my body.

Guard your heart. Guard your body. Focus.