Mark Katrick
“I didn’t inhale.” Quickly, which famous person said these words on March 29, 1992?
It was presidential candidate and soon-to-be elected POTUS William Jefferson Clinton. Mr. Clinton further explained that “When I was in England, I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t inhale it and never tried it again.”
I had a similar experience walking across campus to my dorm. But I wasn’t experimenting — simply breathing in the fresh, spring air. They call that “secondhand smoke,” and it occurs whether you’re indoors or outdoors. To me, it smelled like burnt rubber when you peel out from a parking lot.
“I won’t inhale.” Which not-so-famous person said that back around 2005, give or take a year? Take your time. The clock they use for Final Jeopardy is ticking away.
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If your answer is “me” (“myself” or “I” is also acceptable), then you’ve won the prize. We’ll get to that little matter in a bit.
In the meantime, let me further explain. Soon after graduating from college, I started smoking a pipe. With my BA degree in sociology in hand, I felt it made me look “distinguished.” As a filler, cherry tobacco was my favorite.
Finally, I came to my senses and quit about 20 years later. With the same kinds of rationalizations as before, I broke out a pipe from my growing collection and used it regularly throughout the day. But how can a person not inhale when being followed around by a cloud of cherry-flavored smoke? And what good is it for a person to clean and floss when their teeth are always stained and their gums feel like they’ve been set on fire?
When I quit for good 15 years ago, even though it took time and patience, my mouth began to feel and look better. Though my amazing dentist would concur, he’d readily agree that all the work he’s had to do on my teeth and gums had something to do with this so-called “harmless” habit of mine.
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These days, as one who promotes and practices spiritual direction, I spend my time inhaling and exhaling prayers to the Holy One, who lives above the clouds with the Christ who dwells within the general vicinity of my heart and lungs.
The prize is letting go of something that isn’t good for you and replacing it with something much better. I highly recommend you gift yourselves with “Breath Prayer, an Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred” by Christine Valters Paintner.
One of her featured Scripture passages is from the prophet Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16.
Breathe in: Stand at the crossroads,
Breathe out: ask for ancient paths.
Breathe in: Walk in it;
Breathe out: find rest for my soul.
Mark Katrick is a pastor and spiritual guide.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Mark Katrick faith column: Let go of the bad and embrace the good