#UULent Day 15 (March 16): Serenity.

Today’s word is serenity. Serenity is defined as “the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.”

I wonder, is true serenity possible? Even for a short moment? Can you sustain it for a longer period of time? How?

What brings you serenity? Is it a place, a time, a sound, a scent, a touch, a sound?

Do you have to be purposeful about making time to feel serene or does it just happen in certain moments?

How do moments of serenity help you with the other parts of your life? Do they help you to renew your faith?

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It was such a great blessing to be able to visit the Bavarian Alps last week on my trip to Germany. For whatever reason, I have dreamt of going to the Alps since I was a small child (not going to lie, the dream was the Swiss Alps, but we all know borders are arbitrary human constructs, so it was all just perfect!). It was amazing and awe-inspiring. I knew it was only a temporary moment, so I did my best to take it all in, and to take a lot of pictures. At one point, I walked up into the woods just to experience the magic of it all, the trees, the lake, the birds, and the opportunity to experience a moment of serenity. Being in a place I thought I could only dream about was certainly one way to experience a deep serenity. And in a couple of ways, yes, this moment of serenity renewed my faith. In that moment I realized that dreams, big or small, really can come true. I originally wasn’t going to go to Germany. I was only going to send my daughter. I was finding all the excuses not to go– work, school, money, no time, too many other “little” things to do (clean the house…). And then I took a look at the bigger picture and realized I would be simply foolish not to go. It felt risky, at first, but the moments of serenity I found renewed my faith in choosing to do things that my heart really longs to do. I love to experience the Earth in all her glorious ways and to appreciate this very special thing called life. What an honor it is to live on this planet! If I am to be faithful, my actions should reflect this deep appreciation and I certainly need moments to let go of the small stuff and find the serenity that will support my faith.