Relax into the back of your chair,
and take a slow, deep breath.
Let it out slowly.
Take a another slow deep breath.
Let it out slowly.
Concentrate on your breath as you breathe slowly,
in and out, in and out.
Feel the air enter and fill your lungs.
Feel the air leave your body.
Relax the muscles in your shoulders.
Let them hang loose, relax.
If your leg or foot is bouncing, let it relax.
Let go of the tension in your muscles.
Breathe slowly in and out.
Let go of the tension in your body for the moment.
You think you own that tension, but you don’t.
It is not you. It is not who you are.
Continue to concentrate on the rythym of your breathing.
In and out.
For the moment, let go of your worries for today.
They will take of themselves in a little while.
Breathe slowly, in and out.
In this moment…just be.
We get so busy doing, we forget to be.
We forget we are human be-ings, not do-ings,
made in the image of God,
from love, in love, to love, to be loved.
Remember to concentrate on your breathing,
slowly, in and out.
Each breath is a gift from God.
The feeling of the chair against your back is a gift from God.
The person next to you is a gift from God.
The people you encounter today are a gift from God.
You are a gift from God.
Continue to concentrate on the rythym of your breathing.
Continue to relax and just be…as we pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Thank you.
Thank you for the gift of life, the gift of being.
Thank you for Your love.
We often take it all for granted,
just like our next breath.
We ask for your grace today, Lord,
to remember to breathe today,
to breathe in your love,
and to breathe out your love to those around us.
We pray in your name.
We love you. Amen.
(I wrote this prayer for a faculty meeting.)