Just recently I learned from James Nestor’s book Breath that we breathe about 25,000 times each day. He argues that we have forgotten how to breathe properly, with grave consequences for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. “No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you're not breathing properly.” The pandemic has taught us how precious every breath is and can never be taken for granted. Breath is life.
That is also what our scriptures teach. God’s breath hovers over everything at the beginning of creation. God breathes life into Adam to make him a “living soul.” Jesus breathes God’s Holy Spirit into the disciples after his resurrection. The Holy Spirit is God’s breath living in us.
So, since we inhale infinite goodness from God, how come our exhalations are often toxic? How come we cannot seem to breathe on others the blessings we have received from God? How come we inhale unconditional love but exhale chaos and division?
The urgent question before us is this: If we breathe in abundant life, how might our exhalations—our words and deeds—affirm God’s goodness in our selves, as well as in our relationships, leadership, and governance? Anything less cheapens this great gift we have received.
Perhaps, the hymn writer says it best:
Breathe on me breath of God / fill me with life anew / that I may love the way you love / and do what you would do.
Blessings,
Dieter
