Breathe
So I am going to try to blog at least once a week, maybe more that I know some of you are reading. I realized one of the reasons I don't like to blog is because I don't like to write. I am a talker not a writer. My brain and my mouth move to fast for my typing skills. Plus I didn't take English 7th-9th grade because of "the gifted program," so my comma use and punctuation sucks!I've always been self conscious of that, but here we go again...
I was reading in a prayer book for Celtic spirituality stuff tonight and came across this: "The Jesus breath: Anthony called his two companions... and said to them, 'Always breathe Christ'" by Athanasius of Alexandra, Life of Anthony.
That's good always breathe Christ. What a great goal that my every breath, my every moment would be centered on Christ. Shoot, my every thought on Christ.
Reading further on in the book, "What I do is pray. How I pray is breath." Thomas Merton.
Okay, that is really good. Reminds me of the Rob Bell video on Breath. I can't remember it all off the top of my head but what stands out to me is taking a breath is the very first thing we do in this world and the very last thing. Rob Bell made some connection between breath and the name of God that in the Hebrew language they were similar.
Wouldn't it be cool if the first thing we did was offer a prayer and the last thing we did was a prayer. Playing that out even further, every breath we take is a prayer. (It is also a good Police song, note random 80's music reference.)
Maybe a good practice for us would be to slowly breath in and as we are breathing in may we see the presence of Christ in us. As we breath out in a long and slow breath may that be a releasing of our self, a letting go of our worries, fears, sin, whatever. In with Christ, out with us. Just breath.
Made me think, have you ever been out of breath or had the breath knocked out of you. Scary feeling. So is not having God in my life.
Okay enough random thoughts for the day. Share your thoughts with me and have a great week.
Grace and Peace
Scott
Comments
Comments
Anonymous:
This blog is so accurate for me this week. I have been having trouble breathing and you've made me think the cold I've had is trying to hold me back and take my focus off of God. Now that my breathing is clearing up, I can see and feel Him. Thanks for helping me see that!--Kim S
Anonymous:
A: Don't really care so much about Gramma. In fact report on the radio today said Great Britain was dropping Apostrophes.
B: Really cool, the Breath thing that is. God breathed life into Adam, does He also breathe life into each when they are born even though they are "living" before they are born? And, of course, Paul said to be in prayer always. But I'm not so sure breathing in or out slowly or purposefully is necessarily important and, of course, we don't want to move into a TM type of conditioning. I pray and thank God for all types of little things all day long, sometimes, perhaps a bit sarcastically, but I am still seriously thankful.
To what point can we "release our self"? Can that release become so complete that we loose our selves and become "normal" and of little value to Christ? Each is created separate and unique to fulfill a niche, be a cell, in the body. I am currently reading a book called "The Design of Life" and recently read a section on how amazing a single cell is. Truly mind boggling.!!!
In HIs Love,
My Love,
Peter J Oehler