"Tranquility" carved by USA/Thailand, World Ice Art Championship, Fairbanks, Alaska in 2009
According to Merriam-Webster, tranquility is-- 1. a) free from agitation of mind or spirit, b) free from disturbance or turmoil; 2) unvarying in aspect. According to a team of ice sculptors from USA/Thailand, tranquility looks like this sculpture.
Amidst all that swirls around in my head, heart and soul and the world around me I manage at times to find tranquility. Now and again it floats above my conscious thoughts like a feather on a summer breeze, drifting just out of reach. More often than not, however, it's nowhere to be seen. Lost in the daily routine of work, errands, chores and the general hubbub of life. I tell myself tranquility is out there. Peacefully, quietly calling me. I have to or else lose my sanity to the chaos of my thoughts.
I center back toward what is known to calm and comfort me. During an Alaska winter, it's gazing at the stars with the occasional benefit of Northern Lights dancing amongst them like a velvet curtain swirling on a silent stage. It's listening to the quiet breeze rustling through the tree tops, feeling the cold air brush against my face and taking in breaths of crisp clean air. It's in these moments I can allow myself to relax. Focus inward to touch what's ailing my spirit and coax it out into the open. Where I can see without doubts. I can feel without fear. I can hold true what my soul tells me. A couple days ago I wrote about passion. Passion tells me spirits connect in this world for reasons known to no one and those reasons are rooted in goodness. Tonight, tranquility whispers softly that these spirits are destined in some way to connect again and I'm at peace once more.
