Breathing coaches needed: Everywhere.

My hands were raised to the sky. Right foot raised (toes perfectly pointed, I might add), left foot kicked, right hand followed by head and side- leaned towards the balance beam. My backside raised over my head… (a feat that would now defy gravity!) Right hand landed….. and then….

BAM! Whoosh!

I found myself on the mat, on the floor, next to the balance beam. This was not the plan. I should have been standing atop the beam- back arched- face turned- and SMILING. (Think Olga, or Mary-lou… and, yes- I’m that old)

My prone position on the floor, wasn’t the only thing that surprised me. My lungs had apparently quit. Like an under paid auto-worker, they were on strike. There was no air crossing the picket line, not in- nor out.

Tears welled up in my eyes. Every part of my 9 year old body cried, without however, a single sound. Sound would have required air.

Within seconds- my “coach” (we’re not talking Olympics here- just a fun gymnastics for kids- type coach;) was lying on the ground next to me. He saw my fear and assessed my problem. The fall had “knocked the wind” out of me.

“You’re ok. Just relax, try to breathe slow—not so fast- it’ll be ok..I’m here.” His words calmed me- encouraged me. They helped me to breathe.

All these years later- the scene has been replayed countless times. OK- I (wisely, there is that whole defying gravity thing- you know) never even attempt a cartwheel now- let alone on a BALANCE BEAM…. but they’ve been replayed, in other ways.

“Pant, pant, blow…. pant, pant, blow… you’re doing great honey- just keep breathing” My husband coached me to breathe- during labor.

“Buy me a C-section!” I replied between breaths. (The doctor eventually agreed with me;) But my Husband’s coaching, and loving encouragement, kept me breathing through those grueling 24 hours of labor, with my middle son. His hand holding mine thru the subsequent surgery, was tangible encouragement. Love in action.

The night before our youngest, Noah- was born- I struggled to breathe- as either my fears or relief would soon be realized. (There were concerns as to how healthy a birth he might have)

My response to the fear- was to hold my breath. Together- my friends helped me to breathe- by raising our voices together- in worship- “Shout to the Lord” became the anthem of my heart. They prayed with me- and for me, performing a spiritual CPR that helped me through another “BAM!” The one that happened when we were told of the doctor’s concerns.

Years later, when I found myself knocked windless by a painful situation in my marriage, the same friends gathered, speaking words of peace. “You’re not alone. We’re with you. We’ll help you. You can do this- God will do this, in you. God is with you” They helped me to breathe- when I thought I’d never catch my breath again.

Encouragement. It is like the physical act of CPR. Or like the breathing coaching of labor- or like the spiritual CPR of friends praying for, and with you.

There is a gift of encouragement– but there is also a commandment- of encouragement with our words and our actions.

Are you a breathing coach? Do you have opportunities to encourage others? Do you need one? Are you feeling like you’ve had the wind knocked out of you? Breathe. We’re here- we’ll pray. God is with you—- RIGHT NOW. Where ever you are…. he’s telling you to breathe- encouraging you with His love.

Dear Jesus- I pray that you’d make us all breathing coaches- that you’d equip us to give spiritual CPR to those in need- and that you’d fill us with your breath of life- the love that encourages and saves us- that we’d offer it through encouragement- to others. God- I pray that those who find their way here- and feel like they’ve had the wind knocked out of them- would find you- your truth and that it would encourage them— to breathe. To breathe in your love and Grace, which brings us life. I love you Lord- Amen

2 Thessalonians 2 13-17

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

1 Thessalonians 5 4-11

But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Breathe. Encourage. (And by all means- avoid cartwheels on the balance beam- for pete’s sake!)

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