It could be said that the operation of a submarine has a certain equanimity about it. There is a general balance and harmony between buoyant forces, the surrounding waters, and its silent movement through the depths. The word is properly used to describe people. In its proper context, equanimity is a state of mental calmness, composure, and balance. It is often associated with the ability to maintain a level head in difficult or challenging situations. If you think equanimity looks like it has something to do with equal you’re correct.

Both equanimity and equal are derived from aequus, a Latin adjective meaning “level” or “equal.” Equanimity comes from the combination of aequus and animus (“soul” or “mind”). English speakers began using equanimity early in the 17th century, quickly coming to suggest keeping a cool head under any sort of pressure, not merely when presented with a problem, and eventually, it developed an extended sense for general balance and harmony.

From time to time I am asked about life on a submarine. A question that often arises is what is it like on a submarine during storms, rough seas and typhoons. I imagine it would be extremely difficult if we were on the surface. But we’re not. Several hundred feet below the surface of the seas, storm or no, life onboard has a quality of equanimity about it. While the surface world is tossed about, we maintain a general sense of balance and harmony.

Submarines and Faith share the quality of equanimity. The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein offered that, “Religion is, as it were, the calm bottom of the sea at its deepest point, which remains calm however high the waves on the surface may be.”

May the equanimity of Faith carry you through the days of calm and storms.

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