It was just last Thursday that I attended that one day retreat with SoulCare Project at St. Paul's Episcopal and heard Judy Brown's poem "Fire" for the first time. I wrote about it last week (Sabbath Retreat--Taking Time Apart). It has come to mind quite a bit in this past week. What logs do I need to take off the fire in order to have breathing space?
As I live into arthritic pain and have added physical therapy back into my life schedule these days because of hip issues, I am once again reminded to listen carefully to my body, to not over-extend, etc.
What that meant for me yesterday was that I took a log off the fire. It was a log I enjoy--coffee with colleagues in the morning at a coffee shop. But due to needing extra time to get the body going in the morning, I knew I needed to take that off my plate yesterday. I needed breathing space in the day. Though I didn't get anything accomplished, I did rest a little longer. And rest was what my body needed. Accomplishing things isn't always the best thing, anyway. There will always be something on the 'to-do' list(s).
In preparing this morning for tomorrow's class, I am reminded that fasting is a way of making space for grace. Making space brought back to mind Judy Brown's poem again, so I re-read it and found this blog post from November 2013, Breathing Space. I decided to put one of my many fire pit pictures with the poem to hand out tomorrow night in class.
In addition to this poem by Judy Brown, I heard a song yesterday on the radio that I've heard a couple of times, "Breathe". It's by Jonny Diaz. (At least I think this is the version I heard yesterday. If not, this has great lyrics and fits/resonates.)
Lyrics:
Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door
I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life
Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can
Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just
Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe
Third cup of joe just to get me through the day
Want to make the most of time but I feel it slip away
I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life
I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see
That I only have time for me, me, me
There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life
I’m hanging on tight to another wild day
When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just
Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to take it in fill your lungs
The peace of God that overcomes
Just breathe
So let your weary spirit rest
Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
Just breathe
Just breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe
Just breathe
I need to remember each day (sometimes multiply times a day) to take moments to breathe and rest. "Be still and know that I am God." I cannot seem to escape Psalm 46:10, but that's okay. I don't want to. I really want to and need to come and be and rest at the feet of the One who created me.
There was another breathing space yesterday that I wasn't expecting. A little time outdoors in the fresh air to share about faith, God, calling, and vision.
Making space to breathe. What needs to come off the schedule? What needs to go on? The same thing that might need to come off one day may be the very thing that needs to go on another one. How do you know? Listen. Listen closely to the Spirit.
May there be plenty of breathing space in your life today.
Blessings on your journey,
Debra
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