Hurricanes and tornadoes. Evacuations and refugees. Floods, fires and pandemics.
As I sit and write in what we call “the blue room” of our home, the sun shines brightly outside and the air feels a welcome and refreshing cool. The storm has passed. And amidst the brightness of this new day, I am acutely aware of …
… folks in Louisiana grappling with loss and devastation once again …
… individuals and families, having left all they’ve known in Afghanistan, seeking refuge in new lands …
… adult friends grieving the death of their parents, and other friends recovering from surgery …
… a young man struggling with addiction and another man searching for employment …
And … I am also aware of …
… children and youth returning to school and our friends at Govans Elementary School enjoying the glory of their new 21st century school building …
… the grandchild of a friend discovering the wonder of a dryer ball and a young woman in college jazzed about her courses and professors …
… a colleague celebrating a birthday and another embarking on a new degree …
… a new program year starting here at Redeemer …
Endings and beginnings. Grief and hope. Heartache and heart exultation. Life in ALL its fullness. I wonder: how do you ground yourself, amidst the Fullness of Life and all it holds? What life-giving practice(s) do you have in place, to anchor you as the winds blow and the waters pour down?
Perhaps you’re a runner or a walker. Perhaps it’s time with scripture or time in meditation and prayer. Perhaps it’s sitting with a cup of coffee or tea and gazing out the window. Perhaps it’s playing with a child; knitting, crocheting, or painting; talking with a trusted friend. Perhaps you’re still searching for such a practice … or are so pressed for time that you can’t imagine taking the time to do any of the above …
Over the summer, I did a deep dive into my yoga practice, becoming certified as a yoga instructor. I cannot with words do justice to how meaningful and life-giving this practice has become for me; I can only tell you that it has, and that it is, and that I realize I am just at the beginning of a journey. And that I am excited to begin to share with you the fruits of what this journey holds.
Each of us … you and I … are temples of the Living God. You may not feel like a temple of the Divine, right now, and/but you are! And the world, our precious world, deeply and desperately needs each and all of us to awaken to this truth … live into it … and fully embody it.
So stay tuned for more … and in the meantime … Inhale … Exhale … again … and again … deeply, mindfully and fully … God’s Breath is Breathing You …