Breathe: Sometimes Life Trips You Up...With a Pair of Pants Around Your Ankles

            It turns out that loose pants and jumping on the trampoline aren’t a good combination.

            Do I need to go into further detail?

            Sigh.

            Fine.

            Years ago (I don’t remember when exactly) my brother and I had a couple of friends that used to come over quite often.  One of our favorite things to do was to jump on the trampoline together. 

            On that fateful day I tried on a new pair of pants.  A loose-fitting pair of pants.  As in they were much to wide in the waist.  We began jumping and having a jolly good time.  I figured that I could keep my pants up by holding the waist.

            Soon I forgot though and they fell down.  I managed to get them up before anyone noticed (at least I thought so at the time.  I have recently learned that one of my friends had noticed and just not said anything).

            You would think then that I would go inside and put on a pair of pants that wouldn’t fall down on me.  But no.  It was a great idea to keep those ones on.

            Jumping…jumping…gone.

            My pants came down again. 

            This time everyone noticed.  Laughter echoed across the backyard, accompanied by the word "ew" being repeated by one of my friends.  It was funny, so my brother and one of the friends were roaring with laughter.  The biggest problem was that I too was laughing. 

             I was lying on my back weak from both the laughter and the ridiculousness of the situation and couldn’t manage to pull my pair of pants up again. 

            Oh, did I mention that those two friends were girls?  Talk about awkward. 

            It makes a pretty good story though.

           

One of my favorite things in the world is making people laugh.  I take great pride when someone loses it in a fit of giggles or guffaws.  It’s easier with some, harder with others.  But I always find great satisfaction in this. 

            This has got to be one of the many incredible traits of God.  I am positive He loves making us laugh.   

God throws funny things our way.  In my case it was pair of pants around my ankles.  In a situation like that you either laugh at yourself or you don’t.  It’s much more enjoyable for everyone if you do.

Life’s going to trip you up.  So, fall flat on your face.  Get up.  Spit out the dirt and have a good old belly laugh.

It’s good for you. 

   

Breathe: Introduction

            Stop.

            Drop the knitting needles.  Put down the book.  Pause the television. 

There’s a whole world around you.  When’s the last time you tried to take it in?  When you REALLY tried to take it in?  To be filled with wonder at our Creator’s masterpiece--this thing we call life?

You’re caught up in the busy schedule.  You’re held up at work.  Maybe you’re even too busy just having a good time.  But it’s time you stopped.

STOP.  

Breath in deeply.  Notice the air that you forget so often.  The air you need to survive.

 Listen to the familiar sounds and realize just how miraculous they are. 

Look at the beauty around you.  It could be a plant, a child, a friend, a pile of dirt.  It doesn’t matter.  Being around something for a long time can prevent you from seeing the magic.  Don’t let it happen.

Touch a blanket, feel its softness.  Run your hands through a loved one’s hair (unless they hate it).

Smell a hot cup of coffee.  Sniff a flower. 

Taste the sweat pouring down your face from a hard day’s work.  Enjoy the flavor of pie in your mouth.  Savor it.

This is life, people.  And it is awesome.  Let’s start acting like it.

My goal in writing this series titled “Breathe” is to encourage both myself and you guys to take a break, even for a couple minutes in a day.  Take in your surroundings.  Take note of how amazing they are. 

I want to write in this series as often as I can.  I’ll jot down something cool that happened in my day, a memory, a verse or quote that caught my attention.  Really, it could be anything.  I just want to show, in whatever way I can, what an amazing world God has placed us in.  Hopefully you guys can get enjoyment out of this (me too).

Thanks for reading.  Keep an eye out for “Breathe”.

The River

            Time is like a river, sometimes flowing gently, sometimes racing through the channel of life.  Time is the thing that everyone claims they need more of, and yet so often spends wastefully. 

Often we are caught in the rapids, desperately trying to keep our heads above the water.  Other times it seems as if the current has ceased altogether and we are swimming just to get anywhere.

We measure time by tragedy, by success, by the good times, by the memories we make.  But too often we get lost.  We get swept away and lose ourselves. 

The river flies by and we forget and we don’t cherish the moments we should.  We go when we should stop and breathe--take in the surroundings.  How many beautiful moments do we miss, caught in the rushing tides?

Slow down. 

Get out of the river every once in a while. 

Sit on the bank.  Soak up the beauty.  Bask in the glory of the Creator’s creation.  Be filled with awe-inspiring wonder.  Soak in the love of your friends, your family.  They’re really what matters. 

Whisper a prayer.  Give a word of thanks. 

Never be afraid to say a kind word.  Never be afraid to show love to those who need it.  If you don’t know what to say, that’s okay.  Sometimes a pat on the back or a hug goes much further.

Life’s funny--laugh.  If it’s sad--cry, then wash your face and laugh again. 

The best way to deal with a waterfall: flow with it.  You’ve got the best friend anyone could ask for, He’ll catch you.

You’re going to bounce off rocks.  You’re going to bump into other people.  You’re going to break.  But it’s nothing you can’t handle with your Father at your side.

Life’s short. 

Don’t waste it.