Oxygen mask

If you've ever taken an airplane flight you know that one of the safety announcements is that if you are traveling with a small child and the plane loses pressure, put your own oxygen mask on before helping a child. A few weeks ago one of my older, wiser women friends reminded me to make sure I put my spiritual "oxygen mask" on in the midst of the rest of life. It has been a good reminder.

Maybe you are busy caring for or helping lots of other people. Sometimes it feels like you are low on your own spiritual oxygen - low on God's strength to carry you, God's Spirit to encourage you, God's love and grace to enfold you. Maybe right now is a good moment to just stop, breathe, and listen for God's Spirit.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (1 Kings 19 NIV)

Today, God, we stop.

We breathe.

We wait in stillness, in silence.

By your Spirit, replace our exhaustion, our emptiness, our spent-ness with a renewed energy for your Kingdom. Amen.