Article November 27, 2017 Issue

The refuge of spiritual calm

Nancy Gingras

After a recent visit to London, I was struck by the calmness and evenness of the people I met. I was reminded of the now popular “Keep calm and carry on” motivational poster, once intended to raise the morale of the British public during World War II.

British fortitude and calmness in adversity were once again evident during a series of terrorist attacks in London. A family member who lives in London told me that a fearful reaction to the violent attacks would be a win for the attackers. The terrorists would succeed in altering the British public’s lives. Instead, London residents chose to calmly carry on yet remain alert and vigilant.

However, is there more to staying calm as one keeps on with daily life? How does one remain calm and at peace when facing down fear? In the book of Psalms, we read: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (119:165). And Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace” (p. 506).