It’s Friday and I’m happy to be once again joining the Five Minute Friday community in writing for 5 minutes on the weekly word prompt. This week’s word: Breathe.


It is one of those moments. Tragedy threatens to strike, but seems to linger. There is nothing that I can do, nothing to be done, except continue to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

There are few times in my life when I have felt so caught off guard by bad news. When the breaths don’t come quick and easy, mindless, but instead take effort. Times when my body has been wracked with pain and instead of breathes, I gasp. Instead of thoughtlessness, my body doing as it should, I have to bring attention to my breathing, or the next breath may not come as it should.

It is in these times that I strain to remember the God who I trust. I attempt to recall the feeling of rest and hope that I place in Him as I so often have. Certain of His care.

But when life feels so fragile. Tender. Broken.

How does one begin to pray?

Grab a hold of that breathe.

Breathe in: Abba, Father,

Breathe out: Care for me.

Breathe in: Abba, Father,

Breathe out: Hold me.

Breathe in: Abba, Father,

Breathe out: I need you.

Breathe in: Abba, Father,

Breathe out: Show yourself.

Breathe in: Abba, Father,

Breathe out: show me your love.

Please.

It is in the breathing that I find not only a sense of calm and control, but the Breathe of Life. The One who breathed life into me, breathing that life once again.

Not a life of trite answers or simple explanations, but a steadiness, a calm, a peace surpassing all rational knowledge.

Breath. Spirit. One.

Breathe in…