Every Breath You Take

Yesterday while watching Steve and the kids play on the beach, my eyes were drawn to the left of them.  While my intention was not to spy or stalk on anyone, this woman in the picture kept my attention wandering back to her instead of on the scene I was adoring.  

I watched her for several moments to be sure and yes, I was right (I love it when that happens!):  this woman was praising the Lord.  I won’t say I was mesmerized but there was definitely a pull felt as I kept gazing at her, seeing her lifting her hands, over and over again.  I couldn’t hear her but did see her lips moving and I wondered if she was singing, praying, rejoicing, praising, or all of the above.  

Although my eyes kept going back to the world, my little world, this gesture of love and worship reminded me that it doesn’t matter who is around, where one is located, or what the situation is, we are commanded to praise the Lord if we have breath.  Well, this woman surely did!  I don’t feel like she was doing it for show nor did I think she had any clue the impression she was making on me--and possibly others who were watching.  {Sidebar:  later in the day when I asked Steve if he had noticed her, he was askance to realize he had not.  Made me wonder:  why can we often not see what is right in front of our eyes, or at least a little to the right of them?  Hmn.  Maybe our focus is too much on self instead of what’s going on around us? Hmn hmn hmn.}

I know there have been times for various reasons (such as a cold, bronchitis, old age, or too much on my belly) that I could barely muster enough air to blow up a balloon.  I’ve seen people with COPD, asthma, and even some on death’s door who were still breathing, that chest slowly moving up and down to indicate life was still inside of them.  I’ve seen others who have laughed so hard that their breath was taken as the enjoyment of the moment overwhelmed them.  I’ve seen folks who had to be slapped (often quite hard) on the back to bring the air back into them so that whatever object that may have been preventing them from breathing was displaced.  These all had the opportunity to praise God with their breaths--even those that were inhaling their last.  

In conclusion, take a moment today and breathe.  In.  And out.  In.  And out.  Repeat as many times as you need to but while doing so, keep this in mind:  you have 86,400 seconds in a day.  Spare a couple of them, won’t you, to praise our Lord?  He’s worthy!  Lift those hands as an added bonus and those of you who can sing (even if some don’t appreciate your dulcet tones), sing!  “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord!”