Just Breathe

 There is an old proverb that states, "Life is in the breath. He who half breathes half lives."

• The bible emphasizes the importance of breath and how it gives life. Genesis 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
• Ezekiel 37:5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
  
• And my most favorite is 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

These passages made me take more notice of my own breathing patterns physically. Often times, fear, doubt and anxiety are exemplified in our bodies by interrupted, narrowed, short breaths. When I noticed that I was guilty of this physiological phenomenon in my own life I sought to change it. For the past week I've been deliberately taking purposeful, deep, substantial breaths. When I'm driving, getting dressed, working, you name it--I've been making an effort to slow down my breathing pattern. As a result, I've found myself feeling more courageous and confident!

After making this a priority and seeing the positive results, I considered how this exercise would translate spiritually.

In my spiritual life, I sometimes find myself taking short, narrow breaths from God's word when I'm worried or troubled. I will still read His word, but I won't inhale (meditate) on it in a healthy manner. My sophomoric attempts at connecting with God when I'm full of anxiety are erratic at best. The bible says God's word is God's breath. Considering the impact God's breath had in the previously mentioned examples, it would make sense for me to hook myself up to Heaven's CPAP machine every chance that I got.

Instead of taking quick hits of His awesomeness, I vow to make time to read and meditate on His essence in order to build my divine diaphragm. Just like my physical well-being is dependent upon how intentional I am with my breathing patterns, so does my spiritual life.

Inhale the good, exhale the bad--and repeat.

Quote: “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ― Thích Nhất Hạnh

Song: "Exhale" by Plumb

Meditation Scripture: Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.

Reload or Relent?

Every night I go to bed with a clean purse and a clean email inbox. This tradition of mine began as a method to take inventory of my today and make room for my tomorrow. For years now, it’s been working wonderfully well. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and underprepared; I awake each new day feeling fresh and ready to take on a new and exciting task. I look at my inbox and I know that the things of yesterday are complete and I’m free to handle the challenges and triumphs that today will bring.

Although I’ve mastered the art of clearing my handbag and my Outlook account, I’ve found it difficult to apply the same ‘cleaning’ method to my hearts harbored offenses. The wrong that someone did to me from ‘94 is still hanging out in the dining room of my medulla oblongata. Imagine how grand life would be if we could use one of the  men in black harsh memory eraser thingies or just hit a button and expunge all of the emotional baggage that has been bestowed upon us from years past. If we could take inventory of our heart and ship out the sadness and sorrow and order new joys and mercy to take its place. If there were a way to a perform a self-lobotomy and keep the good but purge the bad we would live life with no burdens to bear; no worries or care. 

Then I realized it IS that simple. 

The mind is the most powerful organ in our arsenal of weaponry against the spiritual attacks we face. The second most impactful element available to us is the power to choose. When we choose to meditate on the good, pleasant, noble, righteous moments those negative and unjust moments tend to disappear. Meditation means giving continued, extended thought or contemplation to a thing. When we massage in the good, the bad will ooze out. 

One universal truth is this: What you feed grows, what you starve dies. The hurt that we harbor continues to pile up and produce pain year after year. Imagine an inbox or a purse that was never tended to and more of the same junk mail kept getting added to it. You would find yourself less productive each time you had to check your email or reach for your billfold. Non productive attempts lead to frustration and then contempt. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly so when we are living less than stellar lives that means something is not adding up. When something is not adding up it’s time to start subtracting. 

We use our hearts every day. God fashioned us as beings that are strengthened through relationships. No man is an island and we all have social strings that pull us in various directions. Since this is true, we must be mindful of the condition of the heart that we are bringing with us to each social setting. If we have crud and crass left in our heart from previous hurt; that hurt will lead to a habit and a perpetual hang-up that will manifest itself in another relationship. The wounds of our past can easily turn into weapons of our present if we are not cleaning out our proverbial closets.

Much like with my handbag and my email routine, I encourage you to Control+Alt+Delete the mess of madness that’s clouding your heart and make room for the litany of love that God wants to pour into your spirit instead. You’ve mastered the art of reloading your burdens each morning; give your back a break. Relent, repent, then lay your burdens down and find sweet rest. 

Quote: “Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” -Paul Boese

Song: “East from the West” by Casting Crowns

Meditation Scripture: Matthew 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Hurry Up and Wait!

My annoyance turned to admiration with each passing speed bump we left behind.  Only 6 minutes earlier I formed an elaborate scenario in my mind about the driver in front of me. According to my eager imagination she was a teenager getting her permit practice in at night. "But why were the adults letting her drive at night? And why on such a busy street," I pondered.  “I will pass them,” I thought. But the metro bus picking up riders in the right lane prevented that grand-slam idea from becoming a reality—so I waited. Then I realized that if I time it just right, I could get around her in the middle turning lane (I was REALLY desperate at this point).  The internal struggle with my frugal mindset wouldn't allow me to take the risk of a moving violation—so I waited. As we turned into the residential area where speed bumps were I thought I would die watching her inch slowly past each speed bump as if she’d taken a class on how to make me angry. I'm certain I saw a snail lap her over one speed bump in particular. By this point I was seething with anger—I felt so close to home, yet so far. Eeek!!

Now that my overly imaginative ego has been silenced allow me to paint a clearer picture: This entire dialogue of happenings spanned less than a five mile distance.  Your Blogger and Christian friend was leaving evening worship service when God presented me with an opportunity that came in the form of a black Dodge Charger. When the car got in front of me, I couldn’t remember any of the encouraging message that I’d just witnessed from my Minister. No, the only thing on my radar was how to get what I wanted, when I wanted it. It’s amazing how creative (and conniving) we can become when we feel our options are dwindling.

After I formulated this elaborate story of who the driver was and why she decided to impede on my will, the Holy Spirit whispered and said, “She’s playing her position, you play yours.” Just then, instead of reloading my arsenal of mental attacks, I decided to yield to the Holy Spirit. This driver was going over speed bumps in a method that would be conducive to the preservation of her vehicle. She understood her circumstances and adjusted her driving to fit the current conditions in a manner that would result in a most favorable outcome. I did not understand her circumstances so I did not appreciate them. Plus, my vehicle is much higher so my perspective of speed bumps was skewed.  This made me think…

In life some people are maturing at a different rate than others. And like in my Dodge Charger illustration, we can’t always see what’s going on inside the other “vehicle” we can only see the outward manifestation. But the driver of the Charger knew why she had to go that slow. She understood the craftsmanship of her vehicle and perhaps the history of what happens when you go too fast. Since she had a more keen perspective, she adjusted her speed; and rightly so. She didn’t let another anxious driver that was trailing her influence what she knew to be the best technique for her unique situation. When I looked at our interplay through spiritual eyes I began to mentally applaud the driver instead of loathing her existence.

Much like my Charger friend, if more of us would play our spiritual position and hold fast to what perspective God has provided, we wouldn’t be so easily swayed with every passing trend. Our path is personal and specific, we must not be deterred by outside factors that trail, tempt or taunt us. Stay the course and make them adjust their path to your spiritual speed.

Quote:  “The dog on the hunt isn’t bothered by the fleas."

Song:  "I Won’t Let Nothing Turn Me Around" by Tiffany Malone

Meditation Scripture: Psalm 16:8  I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved