Catching a breath was one of the “concerns” I had several weeks ago. I didn’t think it was the scary “shortness of breath” type that preceded a heart attack. I just found it hard to catch a breath and I ended up yawning as a result. Sometimes even the yawn was not satisfying. My intake just wasn’t going deep enough. Was there a real medical concern? I just wanted more life sustaining air? Was panic (in my mind) the real problem? Can a tired, muddled mind create enough anxiety to incapacitate the lungs?
On Sunday, Cole summarized a segment of Jon Krakauer”s book, Into Thin Air, which documents the disastrous climb of Mt. Everest in 1996 in which 8 of their team of 14 perished. At several of the camps/passes along the way to the mountain summit, extra oxygen tanks awaited. In one instance a climber, possibly disoriented from oxygen deprivation, radioed to climbers ahead reporting that the oxygen canisters were empty. These climbers had just been there and knew “full” canisters were available. No matter how much they implored him to use them, his altered mental state prevented him from availing himself of the life-giving source. Canisters of oxygen-----right there in front of him and he couldn’t see ‘em.
Over the last few weeks, I have been aware that an extra dose of scripture is the RX I need most. God’s word, right there in front of me. Why wasn’t I picking it up and delving deeply instead of getting by on my own somewhat limited supply of life-giving Scripture.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16 (ESV)I want to inhale all that He has exhaled---in big, deep, soul satisfying breaths/gulps!
This morning I sat and breathed in God's Word. How easy it then was to breathe out my praises as well as pleas to Him.
