“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” Luke 1:46
I stopped breathing last week. There was tension in our family over the holidays. When could we all get together? What about keeping everyone’s in-laws happy? What about gift-giving? Should we draw names? What am I going to feed everyone? Is this all going to get done? It all came to a head one day and I held my breath. The tension rose. My shoulders came up around my ears and my stomach churned. My back tightened and my nostrils flared. My soul was not magnifying the Lord and my spirit was not rejoicing in God my savior. I let the world suck me under and I stopped breathing in a way that would keep me in the here and now. And then I thought of Mary. Young, innocent Mary. She was thrown a giant curve ball. Things did not go according to her plans. Her world was flipped upside down. She had no idea what was ahead, yet she surrendered to the here and now. She said yes and all of history changed forever. She breathed in the very breath of God, the Holy Spirit, and she becoming the gateway to salvation for the entire world. So I took a deep breath and decided to say yes to the current state of affairs.
You showed up tonight. You said yes. You came onto your yoga mat when you had lots of other choices and things that you could have done. You said yes to this time of prayer and meditation. As you breathe in, breathe in the very breath of God. Just like Mary, let the Holy Spirit, that same Holy Spirit who anointed Mary, settle into your heart, your soul, your body, your mind. Allow your soul to proclaim the greatness of God. Let your spirit rejoice in God your savior.
BREATH PRAYER: Breathe in: My soul proclaims your greatness. Breathe out: My spirit rejoice in God. Find the rhythm of your breath. Find the rhythm of your praise.