From Pressure to Breathing

The air is calm and still over Lake Whatcom as the beginning sailing class arrives for the day.  No wind means it's time for games!  Everyone gathers at the boathouse waiting to hear the words "bucket ball" escape the lips of our instructors.  Instead, we hear that we are going to be part of a relay.  We rig the boats, split up into pairs, and begin the tasks of running across four boats tied together, spinning with our foreheads pressed against a rudder, and then jump into our rigged boats, out of breath and dizzy only to attempt to bring the boat around a buoy and to make wind by rocking the boat back and forth.  On the last leg it happens - someone slips.  She looses her footing and slides off the boat into the cold lake.  Besides the shock of the water, loss of her glasses, and a small bump to her head she is fine, but cold.  One of the instructors turns to us and asks if anyone has anything dry for her to wear.  I remember the laundry in the trunk of my car and begin to run up the hill to grab the warmest articles of clothing I can find.  

As my legs carry me up the hill I can feel the pressure in my chest as my lungs do their best to breathe.  The late spring air is surprisingly cold and I can feel my lungs strain against the temperature.  Reaching up with my hand I unzip my lifejacket and a great feeling of relief washes over me.  There is room to breathe.  I can feel it as more air flows in and out all the way to the car and back down the hill.  Without the pressure of the lifejacket holding me back I can breathe freely and effortlessly.  

Sitting here now, soaking up the sun as it begins to sink into the bay I cannot help but compare the pressure of the lifejacket on my chest to the feelings of guilt that often times confine my heart into moments of pressure and stress.  I cannot help but think about how good it would feel to release the pressure and take off the burden of guilt.  How wonderful would it feel if I were able to unzip the lifejacket of sin and guilt (which doesn't actually serve very well as a lifejacket if you think about it) and let myself take in breath by breath true redemption and forgiveness?  How sweet that air would be.