As I step outside, my face stings from the chilled, blowing air pushing its way through my body.
My throat is caught off guard; attempting to take in air at a slower pace. Yet, the frigid heavy wind finds my mouth and forces its way in; making resistance difficult. A battle of the colliding forces entangles.
My scarf! Quickly wrapped around my neck, it provides a warm safe space to allow the life giving process inside to proceed. ah……………….At once, the air flows out of my lungs and back in rhythmically. No longer stifled. I am surrounded by a fortress of protection.
A few years ago, I confronted an equally blustery wind. Blowing with blustery force into my soul. My lungs initially blindsided by the cold grasped to exhale. My eyes witnessing the unforeseen storm of sickness emerge in my child. Death of my husband’s beloved grandmother. Death of a dear family friend. Death of an aunt.
But breath is essential to life. The forces of death and life collide. A battle entangles. I fight. hard. I need a fortress of protection….and like the scarf, I find it right in front of me….and behind me….and next to me…..
Yahweh. The Holy Spirit. One breathing life into my humanity; One breathing life into my soul. Ruach and Pneuma; together awakening the physical and spiritual rhythms necessary for me to move forward to the next moments.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life,…” Deut. 30:19
The Holy Spirit…Breath of heaven. Lovely post!
Visiting FMF #81
THIS: “Yahweh. The Holy Spirit. One breathing life into my humanity; One breathing life into my soul. Ruach and Pneuma; together awakening the physical and spiritual rhythms necessary for me to move forward to the next moments.” We were thinking along similar lines again. We are indeed kindred spirits. I’m in the 6 spot this week.
Beautiful. I’m choosing to breathe today, choosing life. Visiting from #11 at the FMF.
Thanks Barbie.
Stephanie that was a whole lot so hard to endure over such a short period of time. God never promises us to remove the hard, or even to minimize it. But He does promise to walk with us through it, and to help us breathe. Thank you for the picture of the scarf, and how it (and Jesus) is a protection for us.
Beautiful post!
Yes, He does. Ironically, I had written a post about that earlier this week. https://stephaniejthompson.com/2017/01/31/how-i-found-peace-living-in-the-not-yet/
Stunning post today. I love the visual of the scarf creating that safe space for you to breathe again and it being on all sides of you just like our Heavenly Father. Beautiful post today and after living for so many years in the east coast, I could feel all that literal breath taking cold.
Have a beautiful day!
Thank you Kelly. Even though it’s in the 30’s today, the memories of being whipped hard come back easily.
Such great writing, and beautifully capturing those moments when the breath is almost knocked out of us by circumstances beyond our control. Love your insights as well 🙂
Thank you Emma!