No, this will not be a tribute to the theme from Top Gun.
The last few weeks, I’ve been gasping for air.
Truly.
I’ve had a nasty bout with bronchitis that has had me waking up in the middle of the night, not being able to breathe. Taking shallow breaths in the afternoon because anything more than a few sips of air sets me up for failure. Timing puffs on my inhaler so everything stays in the proper working order.
It hasn’t exactly been fun. Add some major question marks, stress, and the return of the abnormally high blood pressure and you’ve got the idea. I’ve been having nightmares lately, wretched ones at that. The kind that when you wake up, you wonder what you ever did to trigger something so messed up and horrid.
My routine of late has consisted of going to work and skipping out on life so I can try to sleep.
So this weekend, I checked out of life.
Well, kind of.
I turned off my phone, booked a hotel room, and checked in. No communication with the outside world. Bliss.
Then I opened up my Bible and started reading.
And what I read took my breath away -
The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is the place to go! And he knows everyone who trusts in him! – Nahum 1:7
But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! – Habakkuk 2:3
And my favorite…
Then you will lie down in peace and safety, unafraid: and I will bind you to me forever with chains of righteousness and justice and love and mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness and love, and you will really know me then as you never have before. – Hosea 2:19-20
And that makes me breathe a little bit easier.
