Breathe

Not to start out on a negative memory, but Covid changed us as how we interact with each other.  I remember thinking we would never get back to the way things were.  I still miss that it changed, during Mass, by how we only greet fellow parishioners with a nod and peace sign using my hand.  It seems like yesterday that our church doors were closed and I watched Sunday Mass, via live stream, feeling disconnected.  

It was considered normal then to stand in line, outside, mask on and gloves ready to cover my hands, waiting to be allowed to enter my grocery story to shop for necessities that everyone was desperately trying to also purchase.  Walking through the store, I’ll never forget that feeling of not being able to breathe.  Much of that was panicking.  If someone spoke to me, they were difficult to understand.  Every so often during my shopping time, I would pull my mask down for only a moment, trying each time to breathe in some fresh air.  It didn’t help because the mask had to be returned to my face.

I apologize for the memory, but how often are we aware of our breathing?  When we panic or worry rears its ugly head, we forget to just breathe.  Breathe in, breathe out.  A sermon I listened to on-line recently, talking about the act of God breathing life into dead bones (Ezekiel 37:1-5).   It brought back this memory, and I still get that little bit of panic feeling. However, just like God breathed life into dead bones, whatever our circumstances, we need to remind ourselves that God continues to breathe life into you and me.  When things get tough, and, yes, when we panic, it’s almost like we hold our breath, waiting for things to get better.  If we would just stop, still our minds, knowing He is the only one that can breathe life into us, it will allow us to lower our masks, gloves off, and feel His breath awakening our own dry bones every moment of every day.  God never stops!

As I sit in God’s presence, I take a few minutes of my own to be still and breathe in all His goodness and mercy, then breathe out, pushing all the worry and stress that we all tend to want to hold onto.  Scripture says God will bring each of us to life.  I pray that you believe as I do.  Just breathe with faith.  Just breathe with the breath that God gives you.

“Nor is he served by human hands as though he were in need of anything.  Rather, it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and all other things.”  Acts 17:25