A Test of Equilibrium

I marched down from the side cabinet toward the front hall to test a different boundary of endurance. Atop the entryway credenza rested a ceramic dish holding a heavy, spherical steel compass. Instead of securing it flat against the surface, I chose a trial of strict balance. Bracing my heels against the cool glazed ceramic rim, I raised my shield and used the flat head of my hammer to roll the solid steel sphere onto the narrow edge of a folded leather tray. For three measured minutes, my joints absorbed every tremor until the sphere remained motionless atop the ridge. True discipline requires mastering stillness under load.