Being the Beloved - A Monthly Blog from CFDM Northwest
By Katrina Obata, CFDM-NW Director of Spiritual Direction Program
CFDM Blog – April 2023
Last fall, I was reading a book about Tai Chi, and what jumped out to me was what the author tells his students: relax, breathe, feel the earth, do nothing extra.
I’m drawn to practicing Tai Chi because of what it asks of me: to move slow, to breath intentionally, to be present, to be gentle. All these things are what I would like to cultivate in my life. While I’m not looking to physically move slow in my life, I do want to mentally slow down, be present, and be gentle (with myself & others). When I’m in class or practicing, I get to attempt embodying these traits with the hope of carrying them into my everyday life more and more.
At the time that I read the book, I was experiencing a lot of anxiety in mind, body, and circumstances. I began to take these words with me as I walked my dog, in little moments between emails, while driving, etc. When I recalled these four steps, it helped me relax and feel more present (usually, only after repeating it many times). It became like a Breath Prayer for me.
The desire of my heart is to follow Jesus. This is hard for me when my mind is preoccupied with worry, fixing, or figuring things out. This prayer helps me to get out of my head, at least for a moment, and become present to myself and then to God in me and with me.
When I think or say the words, my attention moves toward these things:
Relax: I relax my body, and mind (my thoughts)
Breathe: I take a diaphragmatic breath. (It’s relaxing to the nervous system)
Feel the Earth: I bring my awareness to my feet, to the sun/rain/snow/wind on my face, to the chair/ground/bed that’s supporting me. I become aware of where I am, present to what is.
Do nothing extra: I notice if I’m striving to control, or if I’m trusting God. I renew my desire to trust God and try again to surrender what I’m holding tightly to.
At first it was a lot to notice and I would struggle to remember how the last two steps were phrased. Then I noticed that God was encouraging me in this prayer! Encouraging me with scripture in my morning devotional, reminding me of scriptures that have long been anchors for me during turbulent times, and even with a quote from a comedian that was on my weekly calendar!
These are the scriptures and the quote that correspond to the prayer:
Relax:
o “I said to myself, ‘Relax, because the Lord takes care of you.’” (Psalm 116:7 NCV)
o “The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything- the better you are with your loved ones, the better you are with enemies, the better you are at your job, the better you are with yourself.” (Bill Murray)
Breath:
o “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4 NIV)
Feel the Earth:
o “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28 NIV)
o “…for the place you are standing is holy ground.” (Ex 3:5)
Do Nothing Extra:
o “Be still, and know that I am God...” (Psalm 46:10a)
o “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Ex 14:14)
Now I find that all four parts flow together. I don’t need to say each part of the prayer. I can just pray, “relax,” and then I breath, become more present, and rest, knowing God is holding me and everything/one else. This prayer practice helps remind me that I’m God’s beloved, that I’m in God’s presence, and I am being held in this very moment. I don’t need to do anything extra for that to happen; God’s love is closer to me than my very breath.
I read in a Ruth Haley Barton book that a breath prayer can be formed by your response to: “God, what I most want from you right now is (fill in a word or phrase).” Then you combine your favorite name for God with the desire of your heart. The prayer is usually six to eight syllables to say in the rhythm of your breathing.
What do you most want from God right now? Is there a Breath Prayer that God is inviting you to?
What books, media, activities are nurturing your heart, soul, mind, strength in this season as we are loving God and our neighbor as ourselves? Post in the comments below or hop on over to our Facebook page and share with one another.