Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray.

Luke 5:16 (NRSVUE)

Take a deep breath, let the air fill your lungs, and exhale.

As we face big life events and transitions, one of the most important things we can do is stop and breathe. God made you an engine: most of your upper body is taken up by your big, beautiful lungs. These important organs are instrumental in helping you to savor everything life has to offer.

Jesus was great at taking a breather: a short rest to pray, to retreat from the action and to reflect on what he’d been through. Without breaks for breath, his brief but important ministry would have been compromised.

Breathing is also great when adversity rises. You’ve heard of breathing and counting to ten when you’re angry. Whether you count or not, the breathing alone can work wonders!

Your brain is the seat of memory, and your brain loves oxygen.

If you want to hold on to special moments, breathing is the fuel. Graduations, concerts, recitals, championships, celebrations: sometimes it can all feel like a whirl. But when you stop to breathe and to look around, you get a chance to hold on to those memories even better.

Prayer: With each breath, O God, I know you are with me as I live these important moments. Thank you, and amen.