Breath

Breathing is a gift.  I don't make breathing or create breathing.  I just breathe.  When I eventually stop breathing it won't be because of my effort or control.  But I can maximize my breathing as in when I jog.  On a cold or windy day or just a day when I am not feeling all that excited about running, I start out rather slowly.  The effort is minimal.  I begin to think that I will have the slowest run of my life.  But at some point I begin to feel better and then for a while I give it my all.  The pace may be slow, but the effort is what counts.  Most of the time I cannot control the pace or speed with which I run, but I can maximize my effort and that is what makes a good run for me.  The results are the results.  I am only in control of the effort.  It is the same with life.  I do not know how something will turn out, but I can control the effort I put into it.  I may start out willy nilly, but if I don't start out, then nothing is done.  Like breathing, I sometimes find that "starting out" is a grace.  Amazing and surprising things seem to happen after the starting out phase.