Breathe. Be breathed

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page taken from Soothing Breath booklet (4 Corners Festival 2021) 
https://4cornersfestival.com/soothingbreath/


Breathe. Be breathed.


Do you ever hold your breath? I do. In times of anxiety or stress, I stop breathing. Often unthinkingly, it becomes my way of asserting control, albeit not at all effective. Breathing deeply and with awareness is the better strategy! 

In a time of pandemic, when our breath symbolises danger, when a virus tiny yet deadly is carried in this very fact of our lives, how can we breathe freely, let alone peacefully? Where is God in this? As COVID-19 filled successive months of 2020, I pondered the topic of breath in my prayer. 

Have you noticed how closely connected God’s breath is to all existence? All is breathed by God.

Again and again in Scripture, we find the Hebrew ruach and Greek pneuma - translated breath, wind, spirit - used in connection with God.


In the beginning, the ruach of God hovers and creation happens (Gen 1:2). The movement of God’s breath draws something from nothingness, light from darkness, order from chaos.

        When life seems dark and chaotic, 

        when you have no hope and no peace, 

                can you breathe the peace and love of God 

                who breathed you into being 

                and declares all creation ‘good’?


After the Flood, God sends ruach, the waters recede and life begins afresh (Gen 8:1). 

        When you feel swamped, 

        when change seems impossible, 

                can you breathe the healing creativity of God 

                who makes all things new?


The Risen Jesus ‘breathes on’ the terrified disciples, locked in their upper room, gifting them ‘peace’ and new courage (John 20:22). 

        When fear imprisons you,

        when nothing eases your anxiety, 

                can you breathe the peace and encouragement of God?


Breathe. 

Be breathed by God.  

Breathe deeply.


Comments

  1. aneesahopJuly 21, 2021 at 12:55 PM

    I love this ... excellent~ I still have my booklet and look at it all the time!
    Keep breathing!

    ReplyDelete

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