Breathing

I don't know if you have heard of Homeboy Industries before or not. It is a gang intervention program in LA. Fr. Gregory Boyle S.J. is the executive director of the organization and author of Tattoos on the Heart. I just finished reading it recently, and it is one of the few books that will be on my "reread this often" mental book shelf.

At one point Boyle notes "In the utter simplicity of breathing, we find how naturally inclined we are to delight and to stay dedicated to gladness. We bask in God's unalloyed joy, and we let loose with that same joy in whoever is in front of us. We forget what a vital part of our nature this is." This line reminds me of another of my favorite books, Mount Misery (depressing title, depressing book, AMAZING ending). In it one character says to another, "Find the breath kid. Don't forget to breathe." I wonder how often in my own life I forget to just stop and breathe, to take in the moment.

This summer has definitely not been easy. A great deal has happened, and am rapidly approaching a huge change in my life. Yet when ever the going gets too tough I try to remember to be present. (Funny...that's not what this blog is about or anything) Another common theme throughout Boyle's book is "Don't move." I wonder how often God tells me, "STOP. Don't move. Just breathe," and how often I respond with, "Nah. I'll pass on that for right now," or even "Alright (take a breath), now what?" Life really needs to be full of these moments of breathing, full of just basking in the glory of it all. Heck, the very act of breathing is relaxing. What lives we could all lead if we just took a step back and breathed, didn't move. Even the minute details can become amazing. Breathing. Simple act, yet it is so often ignored, or rather it just occurs. I suppose this is a good thing seeing as how we need to breathe to live. But then again, doesn't that reinforce how special breathing is?! It keeps us alive; it connects us with the world. So stop, breathe, don't move. Enjoy the very act of breathing.