breathe again

Aug 26, 2021

.

Brothers and sisters, your faith has been a great comfort to us in the middle of our own troubles and sorrows; now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord.  1 Thess 3:7

Paul’s friendly and affirming notes to his friends in Greece continue. His only apprehension is that they might lose awareness of the firm embrace with which Jesus is protecting them.

I like the reference to breathing. I know from my own experience that when I get a bit nervous or worried my breathing becomes shallow. Often in those moments I can’t immediately change the thing I’m worried about, but I can take a few deep breaths, perhaps a yawn or two to really get the oxygen filling my lungs, and immediately things feel a bit better.

The deep breathing doesn’t magically resolve my anxiety, but at least I’m breathing again.

Sometimes when I don’t feel like praying I simply become aware of my breathing. Pretty soon I’m realising again that I am not giving myself that breath, I am not the creator. I am not God, Instead I become deeply aware that a power other than me is choosing in this moment to give me breath and life. I am being created.

And when I am pondering thoughts such as these I realise I am praying.

 

11 Comments

  1. So wonderful to wake up and find these daily reflections again. I am sitting with a cup of tea listening to the Concert programme/ breathing, reflecting and feeling protected by God.

    Reply
    • Amen

      Reply
  2. That has really woken me up to God.
    It links so beautifully with yesterday s talk of being powered by God.
    I am excited by this. Becoming aware of my breath has just taken on a whole new and wonderful meaning. I have a new way to pray. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Love the spontaneous reflections during lockdown. Today is very short, sweet, and straight to the point. My God bless you and your team for this powerful work. Amen

    Reply
  4. Thanks for todays great reflection. Very wise thoughts.

    Reply
  5. There is a modern song with the words in it just breath I have always like those words. After all isn’t that what life is breathing . If we just breath we are living and we don’t need to fret. Breathing connects us with life and the creator of as you say thanks. Good to have these reflections again.

    Reply
  6. Thank you. Amen.

    Reply
  7. Breathing is going back to basics for us humans. It feels good to be reminded of this when we feel unsettled in these times of uncertainty. Thanks for the reminder

    Reply
  8. Thank you Fr John for your inspirational reflections. They are like a light shining in the darkness these days. May the Lord bless you abundantly for your generosity in sharing your thoughts with us.

    Reply
  9. Thanks! Perhaps putting our trust in God as unborn child/ren (yesterday’s psalm) depend on her/ his/ their oxygen supply from their mother. Fragile lung tissues are the last to develop for a full-term child, yet vital for powering our metabolism. The breath/ power of the Holy Spirit is known in the Jewish Bible, and gift to the Church at Pentecost. May our breath empower our bodies to be sources of kind, thoughtful words for others, including the unborn who hear us.

    Reply
  10. Breathe on me Lord,
    through Thy Holy Spirit,
    That I be covered in
    your protection,in my
    Waking and sleeping.
    My inhaler, is of use to me,
    ButTHE HOLY SPIRIT is
    an Everlasting lifegiving breath
    To protect me spiritually,in life.
    Thankyou Fr John,I will be reminded of the HOLY SPIRIT,each time
    I use my inhaler. I will smile.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

I AM

I AM

I try not to repeat these daily Lenten posts year to year but there are times when the same scriptures pop up annually and I realise that I can’t write it better than I did last year. Today is one such day, not only because of the thought I share but even more in the comments that are added by FFF readers. Today I have left some of last year’s comments helping us to appreciate the power of today’s readings.

my word your home

my word your home

The heart of the home in years past was the hearth.
It was at the hearth that the family gathered for the warmth and light of the flame and the food that was prepared there.
The fire was treated with respect since the same flame which provided energy for the home could just as easily destroy it.

stand up look up

stand up look up

The Israelites in their forty years in the desert were journeying from captivity to freedom, but the struggle of their desert years made them vulnerable to attack from every temptation as today’s first reading continues

confident in God

confident in God

I’m not sure if children today are told the great story of the Emperor’s New Clothes, but if not let’s make sure that the parable is taught at all schools of higher learning.

the teenagers

the teenagers

A few years ago I discovered the wonderful way that God uses my imagination in my prayer.
Such openness to imagination when seeking God does not take us away from reality into fantasy but instead brings me into what is most real and inescapably personal and intimate.