Breath of Life
Lent on the Run—Day 3: Connecting to the Spirit of Life by the very thing we live by.
“…then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.”
— Genesis 2:7
Take a breath in through your nose—slowly.
Now breathe it out—again slowly.
— You can even use a guided meditation like this
There is a certain rhythm in a lot of ways to our breath. For the most part we can go hours without even thinking about it, but there is always a rhythm. However, when life feels chaotic, sometimes it is in reconnecting to that rhythm of breath that we are able to refocus ourselves. There are breath routines for people expereincing all sorts of emotional or mental situations that can help to even out the chemicals in our brain.
This is what makes the rhythm of breath in running so crucial too.
When I run, I often sync my breath up with my steps, the ins and outs lined up on steps, consistent with my cadence. I fluctuate—depending on effort or feeling—between 4 breaths (or steps) in and 4 out, or 2 breaths in 2 breaths out. If I am really feeling the effort, sometimes I will do a 1-to-1 breath. However, no matter what it is the rhythm of breath that guides me and connects me with life.
This meanas it also connects us with the one that gives us breath. As we see in Genesis, God gives the breath of life to huamnity, and it is by that breath that we know grace. Our thanksgiving lies in connecting to our breath. In the midst of chaos of life, or a tough effort on our runs, breath connects us to the one who created us, and therefore creation itself—reminding us of our centering.
Take another rhythmic breath, and connect yourself to the one who created you.
Lent Photo-A-Day
