Breathing. It should be so simple, shouldn’t it? After all, we do it all the time without much thinking. But recently I have been thinking about breathing more mindfully.
I am part of a fabulous singing group with a musical director who writes complex and challenging arrangements for us. He decides when we are allowed to breathe. If we forget, he’ll remind us “DON’T BREATHE!” In our minds, we’re asking, “When CAN we breathe then?” (or maybe that’s just me!) That makes him sound like an ogre, he’s really not, he’s wonderful - jolly and fun - but he is very particular and a stickler for precision when it comes to his music! (quite rightly as it's brilliant!) So in the 18 months or so since I joined the group, I’ve been learning how to manage the long notes and control my voice using my breath. I’m still learning but I am far more aware of fully filling my lungs and how to use that in my singing.
I also run a few times each week. I notice the relationship between my pace and my breathing: what I can sustain over the course of my run and the impact of inclines.
Swimming also relies on a breathing pattern: face in, breathe out; face out, breathe in. Teaching that pattern and rhythm to children (or adults) who instinctively want to hold their breath when their face is in the water can take some time. I know this from experience!
I once went scuba diving.
Just the once.
Never again…
… but I’m very glad I tried it.
I love swimming.
I love snorkelling.
But scuba - not so much, I discovered.
I felt panicky the whole time. Like the swimmers I taught, breathing was difficult and required concentration. I had to tell myself over and over, ‘breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.’ All whilst trying to marvel at the fish swimming around me! I wasn’t expecting to feel like that and was glad when we surfaced so I could get on the boat and breathe normally again.
But it was a lesson in realising that things we generally don’t have to think about, we can take for granted. Breathing comes naturally - until it doesn’t…
So, I’ve been snatching time now and again to take a deep breath in … and a long breath out…
I’m noticing how I feel that breath in my body - my lungs expanding as air is drawn in and then letting it go as the air is expelled.
Is that something you have ever done?
I am finding it helpful to focus on Jesus and spend time with Him as I do this -
to remember that I am His
that He breathed life into me
that in the stillness, He is with me
that I can do all things in His strength
that I am His work of art; His masterpiece; His Poema
the He is so worthy of my praise…
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
These words may be familiar to you from the beautiful worship song ‘Great are You Lord’. Take a listen here.
Maybe it’s just me but just like my breathing, I can go through each day knowing that my faith is there to sustain me but I don’t particularly notice it. It’s not at the forefront of my mind.
Then, like when I run, I may find myself on an incline, an uphill climb, needing to focus my thoughts on Jesus a bit more to get me to the top of the hill and overcome the obstacle.
Like singing musical notes, I sometimes need the breath of God to help me reach that long or particularly arduous challenge in a controlled and powerful way.
Finding a rhythm or pattern of connecting with God can support my stamina for each day in the same way my breathing pattern sustains my swimming endurance.
And when I’m anxious or scared, feeling out of my depth, with the waves of fear consuming me, that’s when my faith is much more active. I am relying on Jesus to keep me safe, to be my peace and my refuge in the midst of my fear, minute by minute, hour by hour, until I am back on dry land.
It’s been a good lesson for me - I hope it might help you too.
A little reminder of dates you may be interested in…
Here’s a summary of where I shall be in the lead up to the festive season:
Thursday 9th November - Open House
Saturday 11th November - Open House
Friday 24th November - Christmas Fair @ St Paul’s Church Bursledon
Saturday 25th November - Poema will be further afield at a ladies event in Wimbledon!
Sunday 26th November - Colden Common Winter Market
Wednesday 29th November - Open House
Saturday 2nd December - Bishopstoke Park Christmas Fair
Saturday 16th December - CRY Christmas Carol service and market @ KCC Hedge End
I’ve been gradually adding products to my Etsy shop - it’s a slow process but there’s a few more each week!
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