Breath

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Then Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
-John 20:22​

I'm in the middle of a season of hopping in and out. A family trip in early July followed almost immediately by a preaching engagement in Ohio this past weekend has been fun for my adventurous personality, but has left me feeling a step behind without enough work hours in the day lately. I really dislike that phrase, but I admit that I feel it sometimes. So I sat down this morning knowing that I had to "crank out" this reflection. Those were the words I actually said out loud to myself as I opened my laptop. Needless to say, it triggered a tiny little voice in my head that whispered, "I don't think that’s healthy." I'm guessing that may have been the Holy Spirit. 

So instead, I paused and put a set of earplugs in (not "earbuds" for music, but the sort of foam things you use when you're working with a table saw). That's what I do lately when I'm overwhelmed. I stumbled onto this practice, and I don't know exactly why it works, but it's my current spiritual discipline when I need to reset my mind and body with God. 

One of the things that happens when I put earplugs in is that the loudest thing in my life becomes my breath. All of a sudden, my breathing in and out becomes the primary soundtrack to my life. Everything else is muffled and muted, but my breath is crystal clear. And that does something in me. 

In the biblical narrative, specific language is often used to speak of living and dying. In the creation story, living things and human life do not simply become alive; they receive the breath of life, or the breath of God. That's how it's spoken of. 
And when people die, frequently the storytellers don't just say that someone died, either. What is written is something like, "and then Abraham breathed his last." This happens over and over again. Breath is central because it is God's gift, and it is the foundation of life. Being aware of the breath we have is acknowledging the value of our life as a gift from God. 

If you've been around me or our church for any amount of time, you will already know that "breath" is the same word for "spirit" in both Hebrew and Greek language. Breathing is one of those things that reconnects us to a deeper world. It reminds of us of our own spirit, and of God's Spirit in us and with us. Maybe that's why breathing exercises have become such a tool for grounding and stress management in our world. Even without knowing it, it's a reaching out to connect with God and be reminded that we have souls that are worth tending to, and not just bodies to accomplish tasks. 

When my earplugs are in, like they are right now, my breath awareness is a path to the essential. It reminds me of what is most foundational in life. It is a chance for me to reset my scattered senses and walk into the coming moments with an awareness of what really matters. It's a chance for God to remind me that "cranking out" a quick reflection might accomplish a task, but it won't lead to true life or deeper love. Only the breath of God can bring that. 

So today, I'm inviting you to breathe deeply. Be reminded of the moment that Jesus gave his spirit to his disciples by breathing on them. Be reminded of God breathing life into Adam's lungs. Be reminded that your life is worth more than what you accomplish, because you are made to be loved and to dwell in relationship with God, close enough that God's breath becomes your very own. And then, when you slow down enough to rest in that unforced rhythm of grace—then you can get back to work, with a groundedness and connection that will lead you toward purposeful living. 

Breathe deeply today, friends. God is with you. Life is a gift. And who you are becoming is of far more importance than what you accomplish. 

Jesus, thank you for moments of grounding and renewed perspective. Breathe life into my spirit today. 

Peace,
Keith