Thank you so much for this. I have been reading the message Bible translation, so I don't read with the atonement lens. I copied it here to share with you how awesome it is. It says "true to your word, you let me catch my breath." I love this, God let's us catch our breath!! How awesome is that?
“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.”
I keep reading it over and over again…..I’ve always loved these words as expressed here in Nadia’s writing and how she expanded on the message, they always gave me comfort. And now with this translation….”you let me catch my breath” really brings the words to a new level of understanding that feels joyful as well as comforting.
Thank you, Nadia, for sharing this sermon with us. Breath prayers are what is saving me these days. Often, they are all I have. Yet, over and over they are enough and they bring peace.
I have become something of a prison abolitionist in my old age. Your words to the incarcerated women not only gave me a new perspective on Psalm 23; but, made me thankful that you are bringing glimmers of hope to the women locked in an abhorrent system. Bless you!
Nadia, I served as a Chaplain for twenty years in the Army. I served 7 of those years with Helicopter pilots. They are a very high-stress group. Flying Helicopters is dangerous business.
I used to take the pilots through breathing exercises to reduce stress. My favorite was simply to have them close their eyes and then count every breath. This automatically slowed their heartbeat count.
I love your words and the inspiration they provide and/or remind me of. Sometimes I think faith is like a class that we constantly have to review because we forget the wisdom that we’ve supposedly “learned”.
This resonates with me and I so appreciate you. I'm 58 years old now and I lost my Mom when I was 14. It was the summer between freshman and sophomore year in high school. I don't have to say anymore, because it was obviously a rough time. As I re-read the 23rd psalm and your words, I can't help but think of my "fighting, adrenaline laced self" growing up and even now, today. Adrenaline and sometimes anger has been my fuel...and only recently I've come to realize that just breathing and being gives a respite from the chaos and weird need to always be amped up in order to just survive. Your words have reinforced my own recent self discovery (just B R E A T H E)...and for that...I'm greatly appreciative. Thanks for being real and always nailing it Nadia. I appreciate you.
To lose one's Mom at that young age changes the trajectory of our entire life and makes us who we are...yet there is always room for learning and improvement. Take care
I had a hellish childhood, and it was also confusing. My 2 older sisters and I were place in a foster home I can only describe as evil. My big sister's did what they could to protect me from the worst of it. Nevertheless, when our father finally came and took us out of that hell, he called us liars when we told him, as a group, what our foster father did to us. Then he went back to the Bar and stayed there for another 10 years. And he treated my big sister's like garage. So, I do not trust authority. Unless the person in power earns my trust.
I know how it feels to be marginalized and treated like garbage. I strongly suspect that most of our prisoners in this country do not belong there Many of the people in power, for instance the Sacklers, politicos, rogue cops, televangelists and others who abuse their power and cause great harm to others should be in jail.
Jesus himself was a victim of abuse of power. I'm just saying, just because you're in jail doesn't mean you're worse than others. Hell, going to jail is just as American as baseball and apple pie! We have the largest prison population in the world.
“The part God claimed in you when you took your first breath, the part that reunites with God when you take your last breath is as close to you as your next breath”
Finding you is a miracle in my life!!! Reading your words, hearing your truth , lifts me up to a higher power and is helping me to find that my HP really loves me ! I have been sober for 1 year 4 months and 4 days and have joined AA and finding that part of me that no one can abuse is the most difficult part of my recovery. Accepting that a HP loves me and is there for me is beyond my reach most days, but reading your thoughts helps me to open my heart and mind to acceptance. The first step in recovery, Thanks so much for being a bad-ass woman who I can relate to!!!!!!!!!
This sermon was so beautiful Nadia. It spoke to me and I am grateful. It was a window into my soul. Something I look for often but don’t find usually. This time, this time something got through and it washed over me. I will keep it close.
I heard recently that God’s name “Yahweh” was originally written with out the vowels- “YHWH”—the “breath” letters. Thus, his name is “breath”. So every time we breathe, we are saying his name. Each breath is a prayer saying his name. That has stuck with me and I find it so beautiful and fitting that God’s name is our breath.
Fawn?! Never heard that one There is so much all too true for me here. I can find my breath in music (so many kinds!) A book can take me to peace, having me laughing, or crying, or pouring out emotions I never knew were buried in there. I’ve been on the edge of a crack that broke me in half - shattered me to bits. All I knew at that time was “The Lord is my shepherd...” I got that as a kid; sheep are cool. Decades of aging haven’t changed that. I’m thinking “Hail Mary...,” “Our Father..., and Palm 23 will be my final prayers. For now I’m grateful for breath and waking each day. I pray that all can find hope, love, and our God extend that hand where he/she does at our most challenging times. Ohm.
I have struggled to remember Psalm 23 verses in the correct order as I have laid on gurneys before surgeries. The order of the lines doesn't really matter, the message and feel of God's hands do.
Thank you so much for this. I have been reading the message Bible translation, so I don't read with the atonement lens. I copied it here to share with you how awesome it is. It says "true to your word, you let me catch my breath." I love this, God let's us catch our breath!! How awesome is that?
“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.”
Psalms 23:1-6 MSGhttps://bible.com/bible/97/psa.23.4-6.MSG
I love this version Gloria 🧡
It has opened up something in me!!!
I keep reading it over and over again…..I’ve always loved these words as expressed here in Nadia’s writing and how she expanded on the message, they always gave me comfort. And now with this translation….”you let me catch my breath” really brings the words to a new level of understanding that feels joyful as well as comforting.
Sometimes I have to catch my breath when walking up stairs or going up a hill, now I know that god is letting me catch my breath too!!
Thank you, Nadia, for sharing this sermon with us. Breath prayers are what is saving me these days. Often, they are all I have. Yet, over and over they are enough and they bring peace.
I have become something of a prison abolitionist in my old age. Your words to the incarcerated women not only gave me a new perspective on Psalm 23; but, made me thankful that you are bringing glimmers of hope to the women locked in an abhorrent system. Bless you!
Nadia, I served as a Chaplain for twenty years in the Army. I served 7 of those years with Helicopter pilots. They are a very high-stress group. Flying Helicopters is dangerous business.
I used to take the pilots through breathing exercises to reduce stress. My favorite was simply to have them close their eyes and then count every breath. This automatically slowed their heartbeat count.
Thanks for Corners
I love your words and the inspiration they provide and/or remind me of. Sometimes I think faith is like a class that we constantly have to review because we forget the wisdom that we’ve supposedly “learned”.
Thanks again Nadia for reminding me that there is always a part of us that can not be harmed. As a mother and therapist, this gives me peace!
(This is a repost of a comment on Allison Moorer’s: The Autotelic that seems fitting for your sermon this week. On breath ...)
“Our spirits are from the wind as is our breath. Our words are our breath and therefore are sacred.” ~ Jamie Sams 💜
This resonates with me and I so appreciate you. I'm 58 years old now and I lost my Mom when I was 14. It was the summer between freshman and sophomore year in high school. I don't have to say anymore, because it was obviously a rough time. As I re-read the 23rd psalm and your words, I can't help but think of my "fighting, adrenaline laced self" growing up and even now, today. Adrenaline and sometimes anger has been my fuel...and only recently I've come to realize that just breathing and being gives a respite from the chaos and weird need to always be amped up in order to just survive. Your words have reinforced my own recent self discovery (just B R E A T H E)...and for that...I'm greatly appreciative. Thanks for being real and always nailing it Nadia. I appreciate you.
I also lost my mom at 14 and am almost 57... ❤️🩹
To lose one's Mom at that young age changes the trajectory of our entire life and makes us who we are...yet there is always room for learning and improvement. Take care
I had a hellish childhood, and it was also confusing. My 2 older sisters and I were place in a foster home I can only describe as evil. My big sister's did what they could to protect me from the worst of it. Nevertheless, when our father finally came and took us out of that hell, he called us liars when we told him, as a group, what our foster father did to us. Then he went back to the Bar and stayed there for another 10 years. And he treated my big sister's like garage. So, I do not trust authority. Unless the person in power earns my trust.
I know how it feels to be marginalized and treated like garbage. I strongly suspect that most of our prisoners in this country do not belong there Many of the people in power, for instance the Sacklers, politicos, rogue cops, televangelists and others who abuse their power and cause great harm to others should be in jail.
Jesus himself was a victim of abuse of power. I'm just saying, just because you're in jail doesn't mean you're worse than others. Hell, going to jail is just as American as baseball and apple pie! We have the largest prison population in the world.
Please excuse the above typos. My texter changes my words.
“The part God claimed in you when you took your first breath, the part that reunites with God when you take your last breath is as close to you as your next breath”
Oh my goodness! This hit me right in the soul♥️
Finding you is a miracle in my life!!! Reading your words, hearing your truth , lifts me up to a higher power and is helping me to find that my HP really loves me ! I have been sober for 1 year 4 months and 4 days and have joined AA and finding that part of me that no one can abuse is the most difficult part of my recovery. Accepting that a HP loves me and is there for me is beyond my reach most days, but reading your thoughts helps me to open my heart and mind to acceptance. The first step in recovery, Thanks so much for being a bad-ass woman who I can relate to!!!!!!!!!
This sermon was so beautiful Nadia. It spoke to me and I am grateful. It was a window into my soul. Something I look for often but don’t find usually. This time, this time something got through and it washed over me. I will keep it close.
I heard recently that God’s name “Yahweh” was originally written with out the vowels- “YHWH”—the “breath” letters. Thus, his name is “breath”. So every time we breathe, we are saying his name. Each breath is a prayer saying his name. That has stuck with me and I find it so beautiful and fitting that God’s name is our breath.
Do you know the song "We Are" by Sweet Honey in the Rock? When you said we are made from the breath of God, I thought of that song immediately:
"We are our grandmothers' prayers
We are our grandfathers' dreamings
We are the breath of the ancestors
We are the spirit of God."
Thank you. Great message.
Oh, and I gifted a year of The Corners to my 12-Step sponsor. I figured that it would be better than me always telling her about what I read. 😁
BTW: here's a link to "We Are"
https://youtu.be/hWaw-tQ4W7w
Yes I LOVE them and love that song!!
New to me. Thanks so much, beautiful.
Fawn?! Never heard that one There is so much all too true for me here. I can find my breath in music (so many kinds!) A book can take me to peace, having me laughing, or crying, or pouring out emotions I never knew were buried in there. I’ve been on the edge of a crack that broke me in half - shattered me to bits. All I knew at that time was “The Lord is my shepherd...” I got that as a kid; sheep are cool. Decades of aging haven’t changed that. I’m thinking “Hail Mary...,” “Our Father..., and Palm 23 will be my final prayers. For now I’m grateful for breath and waking each day. I pray that all can find hope, love, and our God extend that hand where he/she does at our most challenging times. Ohm.
I have struggled to remember Psalm 23 verses in the correct order as I have laid on gurneys before surgeries. The order of the lines doesn't really matter, the message and feel of God's hands do.