I have this quirky thing on roadtrips that helps pass the time–I love to hold my breath through tunnels. We recently took a trip to New York City and I made it through Baltimore’s tunnel–about 90 seconds. But I didn’t fare too well in the Lincoln Tunnel into New York (too many cars). By the way, if you see someone speeding up in a tunnel to 100 mph it is probably someone holding their breath. At least it has that effect on me. I can hear my explanation now. “I’m sorry, officer, but I was holding my breath and trying to make it through the tunnel so I HAD to speed up. How about letting me off with a warning?”
When you hold your breath you begin to feel the effects pretty quickly. You become light-headed. And eventually, if you don’t let the carbon dioxide out and oxygen in, you lose consciousness. I think breathing is the best metaphor for prayer. If you don’t pray you lose spiritual consciousness. I’ve been praying so much more in recent months and I’m so much more conscious of God. I often wake up in the middle of the night or in the morning thinking about God. Breath deep!
Another quirk is that I often forego lunch during the day–just because I’m too lazy to go get it and I have so much to do. On those days I feel the effect. I get weaker and weaker. I think eating is the best metaphor for reading the word. I’ve been reading the Bible so much more in recent months and it feeds my spirit. I have more energy. I have more reserves. The word has caloric value. It is our source of energy. We’ve got to ingest and digest large quantities!
It’s amazing how you never outgrow the need to eat and breath. It doesn’t get any more complicated than that (eating and breathing are biological miracles) or any simpler.