Dawes Life Relaxation 2

You stand in the thick of Northeast Georgia's silent woods (relaxed posture). The Blue Ridge mountains surround you with cumbersome silhouettes (horizontal arms), etched out by a quickly-setting sun (finger drawing). Colossal, arboreal columns extend high above you (vertical arms) and spread their webbed canopies overhead (hands splayed). Down below, where you wait, Evening has canvassed all with her shadowy veil (downward stretch). Unseen paws scurry back and forth in the underbrush (swing arms). You straighten your back and patiently search for stars (slow rise, head up). An owl calls from your right (turn head, rotate right shoulder, and hoo-hoo). A breeze blows from your left (turn head, rotate left shoulder, and blow softly). It's cold, it's dark, and it's late (wrap arms). As you trek back to your cabin (walking), a round black bulge obstructs your trail. It's a bear (sharp inhalation)! You freeze. Wait. It's only a stump (sigh, "Oh!")!

Henry Scougal "A Prayer" (Part 2)

Good God! what a felicity* is this to which we are called! How graciously hast thou joined our duty and happiness together; and prescribed that for our work, the performance whereof is a great reward! And shall such silly worms be advanced to so great a height? Wilt thou allow us to raise our eyes to thee? Wilt thou admit and accept our affection? Shall we receive the impression of thy divine excellencies by beholding and admiring them, and partake of thy infinite blessedness and glory by loving thee, and rejoicing in them? Oh, the happiness of those souls that have broken the fetters of self-love, and disentangled their affection from every narrow and particular good; whose understandings are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and their wills enlarged to the extent of thine; who love thee above all things, and all mankind for thy sake! I am persuaded, O God! I am persuaded that I can never be happy, till my carnal and corrupt affections be mortified, and the pride and vanity of my spirit be subdued, and till I come seriously to despise the world and think nothing of myself. But oh, when shall it once be? Oh, when wilt thou come unto me and satisfy my soul with thy likeness, making me as holy as thou art holy, even in all manner of conversation! Hast thou given me a prospect of so great a felicity, and wilt thou not bring me unto it? Hast thou excited these desires in my soul, and wilt thou not also satisfy them? Oh, teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God; thy spirit it good, lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken, me, O Lord, for thy name's sake, and perfect that which concerneth me. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever; forsake not the work of thine own hands. Henry Scougal (1650-1678), The Life of God in the Soul of Man (a letter of spiritual counsel to a friend)


*intense happiness

Missie's Life-Relaxation #2 -- Rattlesnake Mountain

You've just reached the top of Rattlesnake Mountain in Trout Run, Pennsylvania and you reach up high to stretch [upward reach] and low to retie your hiking boot [downward reach]. You take a slow, deep breath in, taking in the fragrance of the pine trees below you [inhalation] and then for fun you frighten everybody by pretending to be a rattlesnake [pressurized hiss]. Everyone cries, [call] "Oh no!" You laugh [laugh with low diaphragmatic pushes] and carefully climb up the side of a large, moss-covered rock so that you can get the best view possible [climbing motion]. You look out and see rising mountains [draw pointed mountains], lush valleys [draw dipping valleys], rolling green hills [draw arched hills], and, above it all, puffy cumulous clouds [draw clouds]. You sigh contentedly [sigh] and sit down on the rock so that you can gaze on the beautiful sight all evening [sit back in chairs].

"Little Seed" Life-Relaxation Rhyme

"Little Seed"
Written by Mabel Watts
Action Rhyme

A little seed for me to sow . . . (Pretend to hold a tiny seed.)
A little earth to make it grow . . . (Stoop down and touch the ground.)
A little hole, A little pat . . . (Pretend to dig a hole; plant seed; pat earth around seed.)
A little wish, And that is that. (Touch index fingers to head; bring arms down and fold over chest.)
A little sun, A little shower . . . (Make sun with hands; use fingers to create rain.)
A little while, And then --- a flower! (Pretend to sleep; cup hands up to make a flower.)

Life Relaxation 2

It is a beautiful breezy spring day.  The sun is shining (draw sunshine) and white fluffy clouds drift across the sky (draw clouds).  You see your friends and call to them, “hello, friends”.  You walk around the glistening blue pond with them.  In the sweet scented breeze you see cattails waving in the wind (wave your arms back and forth). Aha! You have an idea.  You bend down and pluck brown fuzzy cattails from the mushy ground. You turn and hit your friend with one (wave your arm as if hitting your friend).  The cattail fuzz flies everywhere (illustrate with hands) and your friend says, “Oh no!” You laugh, hee hee hee.  Soon you and your friends are all covered (illustrate with hands) in cattail fuzz. Ah (take a deep breath and spread arms out wide)!  What a gorgeous spring day!!

Life-Relaxation Exercise 2 (The Triumphal Entry)

Mt 21:6-7 The disciples went [walk in place] and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt [guide donkey and colt], and laid their coats on them [gently shake off coat and let it slowly fall on the animals' backs]; and He [Jesus] sat on the coats. 

Mt 21:8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road [bend down to spread coats], and others were cutting branches from the trees [reach up to grab branches and cut] and spreading them in the road [bend down to spread branches]. 

Jn 12:13 [the crowd] took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him [wave palm branches in air], and began to shout, “Hosanna [Hosianna]! . . .” 

Mt 21:9 “. . . Hosanna [Hosianna] in the highest!”

Non-boldface text outside of brackets is from the NASB. Italics added.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Relaxing at the Bank

You seem to have lapsed in your good character and have decided to rob a bank. You grab your black ski mask from a high shelf [reach high and grab] and pull it over your head [pull on mask]. Grabbing your lime green handgun [reach to right] and your black bag [reach left], you walk quickly next door [walk] to the National Bank. You enter the huge hall [large gesture] admiring the deep red tapestries to your sides [look left and right; sweeping gesture with corresponding arm]. You go up to the teller and say “give me your money!” [quiet call]. But oh no [“oh no”], there is a policeman who stops you. He makes you place your gun on the floor [bend over, place gun], rise slowly [rise], and put your hands above and then behind your head [move hands]. All of a sudden, your eyes pop open and you realize you were sleeping all along so you sigh with relief [sigh]. You laugh at the dream [ha ha ha ha ha] and stretch [stretch] before getting up for the day.