Oxygen

I have a machine that I keep by my bed that helps me to breathe as I sleep. It makes sure I don't have episodes of sleep apnea, or times when I simply stop breathing momentarily. I can really tell a difference when I am using it properly. I feel a whole lot better in the morning than when I only use it part of the night.
At this period of my life, I often feel like it is important for me to remember to breathe. Just as that grogginess and headache in the morning can be signs that I have been somewhat oxygen deprived during the night, I can in many ways feel that my heart has been deprived of spiritual oxygen as I just try to make heads and tails of what is going on with my life right now.
So 3 things have come into focus as vital for my survival right now. And what is funny is that these things are always vital, it's just that in wilderness experience like this one my need is so much more obvious.
The first thing that is so vital is the Word of God and prayer. I am praying more now than ever, and I thought I prayed a lot before. I am maintaining my time in the Word just as I did before, but I am also just devouring any bits of Scripture that come my way from any source. Second is my wife and children. It's like we are on our own little island here and each of my boys is just so precious. I do not know what I would ever do without them.
But the thing that I do not necessarily have instant access to here at my address is the 3rd most vital thing to me right now... and that is caring friends. People who have been taking the time to reach out to us and encourage us have really been like oxygen to our gasping lungs. Without my friends... I think I would just pass out... or withdraw into my turtle shell and never come back out... Each one is just a breath of fresh air to my soul.
Now this time in my life, though indefinite in length, will come to an end eventually. But the vitality of friendship will remain the same even when things have returned to so-called normal. So here's my point... there is someone... make that multiple someones... near you... near me... who isn't necessarily in a crisis experience right now... but they're way down deep in that turtle shell, and need a friend to coax them back out into the light and life again.