Breathe

 

So far this week, we have considered the false and true Mordecai in our lives.  Those who want to force a choice now and demand a donation, and those who join us in the messiness of choices without trying to fix/save/advise us.  We listed the decisions we are facing personally, religiously, politically, communally, and relationally.  We have named and noticed our list of pros and cons.  And we’ve realized that the choices we make have ripple effects on others.  Hopefully you see why choices have a weightiness.   In such a time as this, we can feel overwhelmed by all that we are facing.  Perhaps we empathize with Esther because we feel like we have the whole world on our shoulders.  So today, I want to invite you to breathe.  Remember that the false urgency of a Mordecai today wants you to decide right now or you will miss your moment.  But, in the spaciousness of God, there is always a pause.  Or as Viktor E. Frankl said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space.  In that space is our power to choose our response.  In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”  I would add to that that in that space is a Sacredness of God seeking for us to pay attention to the One paying attention to us.  It helps to breathe.  I invite you to get out your decision list and breathe.  Invite God to sit within you in that space.  Listen for God.  And I pray if you need a Mordecai to help you listen to your life, I am also glad to be present with you in those spaces and places we find ourselves at such a time as this.

 

Here is a wonderful breath prayer by Rev. Sarah Bessey:

Inhale: I invite the practice of

Exhale: peace and faithfulness.