Deep breaths and doggie pants


Life is a moving, breathing thing. We have to be willing to constantly evolve. 
Perfection is constant transformation. --Nia Peeples


At my church, almost every Tuesday evening means a meeting. It certainly isn’t all bad, for many reasons. We are doing the business of the church. I get to be in a more intimate setting with my church family. And my secretary Irene always makes sure every agenda laid out around the table has a piece of chocolate on it. And she knows I like dark chocolate.

Last meeting, the treats were foil-wrapped Dove Promises (dark chocolate, of course). I tend to be the only one who takes the time to read the bit of pop wisdom stamped inside the wrapper; everyone else is after the chocolate.

My wrapper said, You got this! Seemed to be a perfectly good reminder, and the meeting went well. But the best bit of wisdom came from the person to my right. Her wrapper bore these words:

Exhale the past. Inhale the future.

Let go of the stuff of yesterday that’s holding you back. Breathe in great lungsful of promise and hope for the days ahead.

Blow out the hurt, the anguish, the anxiety and the shoulda coulda wouldas. Close your eyes, breathe deep and trust in the one who gives us ruach, the Spirit of Life. Fill your every moment with God’s promise: Never will I leave you nor forsake you. I will be with you until the end of the age.

Now c’mon, let’s go do stuff! Together! You got this!


Monday Is there a place where your heart hurts with every breath from a wrong you perceived a long time ago? Spend time journaling. Let it all out; pray. Psalm 119:137-144

Tuesday Maybe you’ve been hanging on to harsh words you spoke that cost you a relationship. Send a note (not an email) if you can. Forgive yourself. Luke 19:1-10

Wednesday Make a shopping trip. Pick up a few items for the local food bank. Ephesians 1:11-23

Thursday Do at least one random act of kindness today. It doesn’t have to be a big one: offer a smile, be kind. Sow seeds of promise. Isaiah 1:11-18

Friday Decide today to give up a bad habit (for today). How did it go? Try again tomorrow. And the next day. Psalm 32:1-7

Saturday As you pray for yourself today, be especially honest. Where are you holding grudges and pains that hold you back from truly being who God created you to be? Exhale that past. Psalm 149

Sunday Sunday! A new week filled with fresh hope and promise! What will you do, my dear, with your one wild and wonderful life this week? Psalm 84:1-7

Another world is not only possible; she is on her way. 
On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. –Arundhati Roy

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping back. . . .

Image
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and with a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,  even if your whole world seems upset.  –St. Francis de Sales This week, I invite you to simply sit in a quiet space with words of hope and promise, and to remember, as Julian of Norwich knew, that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well . It has been a long, difficult season. Advent and the coming of the Christ is just around the corner. Peace and comfort to your spirit. Monday   “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Matthew 11:28-30 Tuesday  “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6-9 Wednesday  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
Read more

It's that time again. . . .

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised changed, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness?  Whatever it is,  it’s welcome. –Kristin Armstrong No matter what part of the world you call home, this time of year brings big changes. While my friends Down Under are watching sings of new growth emerge from the earth as temperatures rise, here in Ohio, the leaves are turning from green to gold and orange, red and brown. The winds have taken on a chill; clouds hang heavy, like soggy cotton, reminding us that soon and very soon, we are going to see the snow . Always different, yet somehow, the same. We depend on God’s eternal ways, and trust that again this year, winter will follow autumn, just like it should. So why is it, as we anticipate and appreciate changes like these, when it comes to so many things in life we pull up short, wrinkle our noses and say No! No change! I like things just the way they are! It’s t
Read more

Starting again

“This, then, is how you should pray:" --Matthew 6:9a I have been really sensing lately that there is another blog inside me, one focused on prayer.  Oh, I know-- those elephants are all about prayer. Heck, they  are  prayer. And I will continue there, as well. But what I've been feeling is that people-- maybe you--  have always been told, "You should pray," or "Pray about that." But maybe you feel your prayers aren't "good enough," or that it's just too hard, too embarrassing, too [fill in the blank] to pray. Maybe it feels like no one really talks about how  to pray-- except, of course, for Jesus, in Matthew 6 and a couple parallel passages where we are given what's come to be known as The Lord's Prayer. And it is a great prayer. And there are other great prayers, and other ways to pray that do not involve rote. So "my plan" here is to share, hopefully on a weekly or semi-regular basis, a lot of
Read more