Just Breathe

Enjoying the cool breeze of a recent summer night reminded me of something my grandmother used to say, “Feel that fresh air, it’s so good…” The experience of fresh air made her incredibly happy. Every spring the screens on her windows were reaffixed as the frost disappeared from the lawn. I recall sitting in her small kitchen sipping hot tea together, with the side door slightly ajar, so we could feel the refreshing breeze blow in from some distant place. Something so simple literally changed her mood and allowed her to breathe freely. 

Now that I am a bit older with a few life experiences behind me, I wonder if there was more to my grandma’s longing for fresh air than I originally thought. I’ve noticed that I immediately relax when I feel the crisp, clean air of a spring day or the chilly, damp air of an ocean breeze. During these moments, I often close my eyes and take it all in, emptying my mind of every care and worry so that for a brief moment in time I can just breathe.

With all the chaos and suffering in the world, perhaps we need to take more opportunities to just breathe. Something as simple as experiencing a rush of fresh air may provide a much-needed chance to settle down in order to hear the comforting voice of God. In the gospel of John, Jesus says,“The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) Just like the wind, the movement of the Spirit is silent and elusive. So it’s important to stop our lives momentarily, in order to just breathe. When we do, we give ourselves an opening to hear the echoes of the Divine encouraging us to give thanks for all we’ve been given – nothing more, nothing less.

Thinking about my grandma and her appreciation for the gift of fresh air has inspired me to turn off the air conditioner and roll down the car window on beautiful days. It has also invited me to put down my devices and just be present in the moment, breathing in the fresh air around me. While I don’t know the background behind grandma’s appreciation for the gift of fresh air, I imagine it had something to do with learning how to decompress after a long day. Maybe it was even a yearning to cherish life’s simple pleasures – something younger women don’t always have the wisdom to understand. Whatever the reason, the impact of her desire has stayed with me and taught me a few important life lessons – slow down, take moments each day to breathe deeply and give thanks for the gift of God swirling all around us. By doing this, I stay grounded, live in gratitude and listen for the guiding, loving voice of the Spirit who wants nothing more than my ultimate happiness in this world and the next. It all starts with a breath.