Breathe

When I hear the word “breathe” my mind immediately conjures up a variety of images; the subtle and innocent sounds of a new born baby softly breathing as she sleeps in her mother’s arms, a runner sucking air as he gives it all he’s got, a child as she cries while hyperventilating and struggling to settle down, or even the necessary yet natural involuntary act of just breathing. But the image I am most drawn to is that of the overworked, weary, and bedraggled person taking a deep breath and then letting it all out with that long overdue exhale. This understanding of “breathe” takes me away from the hustle and bustle, the worries, the time commitments, and everything else in competition with “breathe”. It places me on Corona’s white sandy beach where staring through a clear beer bottle into the aqua blue ocean wins the competition for my time.

I find it interesting how closely these images can follow the pattern of our daily lives: innocent and child like, working passionately, frustrated with anxiety and fear, or even the necessary yet redundant tasks each day requires. Take all of this, push it out of your mind, take a deep breath, let it all out and “breathe”.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”