Close Your Eyes and Breathe It In

Prior to the “C” word, I was walking five miles a day. I’ve recently realized that beginning that routine again is necessary because I can feel my joints getting weaker. We have a very small Rec Center in our town, and it holds maybe ten treadmills. I enjoy going there because, to be honest, I’m rarely the oldest nor the largest working out. It’s small – clean – and convenient.

My normal method is to spend these 45 minutes listening to my 70’s music – Elvis, ZZ Top, Eagles, Chicago, Carpenters, Bob Seger, Clapton, CCR, The Temps….and I could go on forever. Today my heart spoke to me and suggested I listen to my Playlist of Christian Songs. I have a full Playlist that I haven’t listened to in quite a while. Every time I’d try to listen to them, they didn’t provide comfort. Our current world is in such turmoil and conflict that these soft words were not getting through all the anxiety and worry. But today something felt “different”, so I started my treadmill and clicked on this list.The first song that played was The Old Rugged Cross. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross”….immediately memories flooded my mind. Tears began pouring from my eyes. I could see me, Jane, Nordis, and Debbie Milburn, sitting on the second row on the left side of Bethel Baptist Church. Shirley Keck was on the piano and Myra Daughtery on the organ. I could hear Charlie Milburn and Don Sewell singing in the choir. The next song that clicked on was How Great Thou Art. “Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder”….memories of being in Barbara Bowles Sunday School Class with my friends, where we really studied God’s word and asked hard questions.

I could visualize Jim Keck and Mr. Painter passing the offering plate. Again, the four of us sitting on the second row – Debbie with her crutches – poking us with them – passing notes and making us giggle. Getting side looks from all the adults around us, knowing we’d get scolded at home, yet we continued. Bethel is where Charlie Milburn would belt out the chorus of Standing on the Promises and we’d all stop singing just to hear his voice. Tears came faster.

Pass it On…”It only takes a spark to get a fire going”…and I see Jane with her guitar as we gathered at Debbie’s house for Sunday School, because Debbie had had one of many surgeries, and was in a body cast held up by a piece of plywood. Then I could see our group at Linda Allen’s house – sitting in the living room – Jane on her guitar and, with Linda’s guidance, we were unfolding scripture. More tears.

What I felt during this workout was a gift from Heaven. Minutes where time really did stop – memories pushed through all the ugliness we are facing today. Bethel Baptist Church was so much more than brick and mortar. I remember Mom telling me the nursery was full – it was a tiny nursery at that time with two or three cribs. They had to double up the infants in cribs and my crib mate at times was Chris Keck. I laugh today because I still have a piece of pencil lead in my left hand where he stabbed me with a pencil during Junior High Sunday School, but that’s a different story for another time (one which he’ll deny no doubt). I ran the halls of Bethel from the time I could walk until I walked down the aisle for my wedding.

Bethel is where I accepted Jesus as my Savior and provided me the foundation to face the trials and struggles life has thrown my way. I wondered as I walked, “who would I have become without this small pink brick church?” While I was raised in a home with discipline and was taught serving others was important, my church reinforced that foundation. As Christians, we’re taught it is our moral duty to attend worship services. And I believe that’s true. But what I discovered today was not as much being at church but who I was with at church. Lifetime friendships. Adults who modeled what it means to do the right thing.

The last song I listened to was one of my Dad’s favorites and we had it sung at his Celebration into Heaven – I’ll Fly Away….”Some glad morning when this life is over I’ll fly away.” My eyes were red, and I was out of tears, but my heart and soul were filled with a joy that is unexplainable. It was true joy from Heaven. I didn’t see a burning bush, but God spoke to me today. He spoke through my heart and encouraged me to “close my eyes and breathe it all in.”

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