I can’t sleep….

because he couldn’t breathe.

And because he wasn’t allowed to take a breath,

a heavy, dark cloud settles on all of us, all of society.

It makes it hard for all of us to b r e a t h e .

But at least we get the chance to try.

He begged for his last breath….and was denied.

and now, so many can’t breathe–

Shock can do that to you. So can fear. So can anger. All are justified.

But these can steal our breath, our joy, our passion.

We have to breathe. WE WERE ALL BORN TO BREATHE.

The beautiful thing about breathing is

that it’s a taking in, and a giving out

Inhale. ………………………………. Exhale……………………………..

Inhale. ………………………………. Exhale……………………………..

Inhale. ………………………………. Exhale……………………………..

We inhale what’s around us, masks or not. We are all breathing in what happened and it’s a dark cloud. We breathe in the good. We breathe in the bad. May the masks that filter our hearts be strong against this hatred that like Covid 19 eats aways at the lungs that were made to breathe. It doesn’t stop with lungs, it stains the heart.

We were born to breathe.

We exhale what’s in us…

My question~

what are we breathing out

that those around us are having to breathe in?

Hatred? Jealousy? Divisive Judgments?

Kindness? Love? Compassion? Empathy?

What are we breathing out, that impacts what others are breathing in?

Take Note. Think. B R E A T H E…..

Hold your breath if you’re gonna breathe out hatred. CATCH YOUR BREATH

Because it travels —oh how it travels.

It travels to those who might be needing a breath of encouragement and are struggling in ways you’d never know.

It travels to those who have burdens to bear that make their breathing more labored in the first place.

It travels and spreads and can choke the life out of precious souls—literally.

It travels to those who can’t breathe…and we need to take note.

Let’s all stop. Catch our breath. Just stop and think…

Our world is so concerned about the silent killer of CoVID-19, but there’s a much more widespread issue that no ventilator can touch. The human spirit is made to breathe.

And to me and my Christian sisters and brothers—I love this reminder from Paul in Ephesians 5:1-“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

All through scripture we are called to love. Love sees. Love notices. Love moves. Love breeds a righteous indignation that makes us speak when someone can’t breathe. In fact, it can make us SCREAM.

Because when someone can’t breathe, it’s time to act, to move, to respond. To SCREAM. HE CAN’T BREATHE!!

And because he couldn’t breathe,

I can’t sleep.

But I can speak….

And I can see.

And I can pray.

I can STOP, catch my breath and make sure that what I’m breathing out is life giving and not suffocating to those around me.

We were all made to breathe.

May God Have Mercy on Us All.

He created us to breathe.

Deepest of condolences to the family of George Floyd….and the countless others who can’t breathe —because he couldn’t breathe.