Breathing

Yesterday I went on a strenuous hike, and in anticipation of it, I took a couple of puffs on my inhaler. You see, I have asthma. It's really not a bad case, and most of the time it's not even on my radar. I only remember it when I do something extreme...like go for an intense hike, or play sports, etc. But every time I inhale that medication, I am amazed at how easy it is to breathe!

I think that I generally operate at around 90% of my breathing capacity, and while that's plenty for my everyday life, that extra 10% I get from the medication is astounding. I feel like I could inhale forever. At the point where I usually switch from inhaling to exhaling, I feel like I just started inhaling. When I 'take a puff' I often have to take a few moments and adjust to the new freedom I'm experiencing.

Anyway, yesterday as I was reveling in the new levels of oxygenation I was reaching, I was reminded about how I have been given the Breathe of Life, and how easy it is to become comfortable Breathing less than 100%. As a human, I need oxygen to live, and as a Christian, I need Jesus to Live. But just like living with asthma, it's very easy to Live on less than 100%. The more I 'Breathe' Jesus, the more capacity I have for Breathing. I know the analogy isn't perfect, but it makes a lot of sense to me. :-)

Take time to listen to this song and ponder what it means.....