My dad lent me “Breath” by James Nestor which I just started and am thoroughly enjoying (though admittedly his view of some medical treatments is a bit “normie”).

“No matter what we eat, how much we exercise, how resilient our genes are, how skinny or young or wise we are – none of it will matter unless we’re breathing correctly,” Nestor writes. “That’s what these researchers discovered. The missing pillar in health is breath. It all starts there.”

As I am taking some time at the end of this year to rest and rejuvenate, breath is central to my focus. What are your favorite breathing exercises to enter into parasympathetic territory?

What great news it is that God loves us so much that we are not abandoned to the darkness of this world. As Paul wrote, “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

Also great news, we did not burn down church last night but Jack did burn his finger after touching the flame on his candle. He let out the loudest roar during the quiet part of Silent Night, but all is well. Raced him out of the sanctuary, stuck his finger in a bottle of water, and made it back for the end of the hymn. Merry Christmas!