Breathing in the Creator

Spiritual Exercise 71

Preparation
I will allow my spirit to rest a little and consider where I am going and for what purpose. I make a gesture of reverence and humility. I read the prayer texts.

Opening Prayer
I ask for the grace to direct my whole self toward the Creator.

Desire
I desire to breathe in the Creator.

Prayer
I become aware of my breath passing through my nostrils. For five minutes, I feel and focus on the sensation of my breath flowing in and out of my nostrils.

Then I imagine, with each breath that I breathe out, that all the trees, plants, and flowers respond by breathing in. When they breathe out to offer oxygen, I breathe in. For five minutes I remain with this awareness of my breathing in and plants breathing out, of my breathing out and plants breathing in.

So I experience the rhythm of creation and creature breathing to live.

Now I imagine the same relationship between Creator and creature, God and myself. God breathes the Spirit into me, and I breathe out to renew the face of the earth. God breathes the Spirit into me, and I am re-created. I breathe the Spirit out to re-create life in my relationships, home, work, etc. I do this for five minutes.

So I experience the rhythm of Creator and creature breathing to renew the face of earth.

Conversation
I ask the Creator for the virtues or graces for which I feel the greatest need.