We breathe all the time, right? If we don’t then we find ourselves in a lot of trouble!
Our breath is a gift in the general scheme of things. We have been created — designed, if you will — to breathe in order to keep living. I sort of like that, don’t you?
Our breath gives us so much information if we stop to consider it. How’s the air in here? How’s our health? Doctors always listen to our lungs when we go in for a visit — right? The way in which we breathe is important. Do you have sleep apnea? I do. Boy, am I grateful for my CPAP machine! Whether I am breathing well or not truly impacts my sleep, thus my day after.
Our faith is impacted by our breathing. Or, is it the other way around: Our breathing is impacted by our faith?
The scriptures have a lot to say about breathing and our creation. Breath is mentioned in the scriptures more often than you might think; I stopped counting at 100! The scriptures reference “breath” from one end to the other! Does that make you pause? Does that make you consider how spiritually important it is to take time to breathe? I mean really breathe. God has breathed life into creation — including us!
When God’s breath is specifically referenced, it is called Ruach Elohim (Elohim meaning God). All of creation needed that breath to come into being. Ruach is a word with nuance! It can mean wind, breath, spirit — as the Holy Spirit.
I love the term “animating force of life.” Can you think of anything else in our world that we would give that title? I’ve been thinking about that over the last couple of days and can’t think of anything.
So, if we are living and breathing recipients of Ruach Elohim, that would make us all important, significant, real, in the eyes of God. In my thinking, anything, anybody that breathes God’s own breath would be accepted and loved by God.
Why then are so many religious organizations and their members unwilling to accept LGBTQ+ folk? They apparently either deny that Ruach Elohim is the breath of God; that God gave us that breath on purpose, and that it was of God’s own free will. Thus, we are breathing; thus, God loves us.
Regardless of how we identify ourselves, we are all recipients of the creating, healing gift of the Breath of God. In addition to giving us Iife, the breath we received gives us life beyond the obvious, gives us hope when we are unsure or frightened, and offers healing to our bodies and Spirits.
How do we return the favor with respect to breathing life into creation? Consider what we are given in John 20:19-23 when Jesus appears to the Disciples behind their locked door! “Peace be with you,” Jesus says. He allowed them to see the wounds of his crucifixion so that they would believe. Jesus then breathed on the Disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Do any of us truly understand and experience the responsibility held in that Gift of the Holy Spirit? The responsibility to interact with those we meet; to forgive those who are mean or critical or violent toward us because, if we do not, we are turning our backs to them. Please read that sentence again. The thought that we, in an unthinking act of refusing to forgive someone are doing so, is a very alarming one. Takes my breath away!
Very recently, I had a grace-filled conversation with a friend of mine. We have known each other for at least 30-plus years and had been extremely close at one time. Decades ago, however, my ignorance fractured our relationship. I failed to continue to love her as I judged her. For so many years, we had talked frequently and had visited each other. We celebrated the births of our children and their growing up. Yet, there was always a cloud of sadness hanging over our relationship. In what I can only call a moment of spiritual leading, I called her to ask about some specific training for our dogs and, like things usually do with us, we digressed.
Over the years, my theology has become my own — far more understanding and compassionate. Fortunately, for about three hours, we talked about our lives and the love we have for each other. My friend very gingerly began to address the cloud.
It was time. It was time for her to put into words just how hurt she had been by my words so long ago. It was time for me to name my sin and ask her forgiveness.
What was my sin? My sin was not taking a breath before saying some very judgmental things to her. If such a thing was possible, I had not allowed the inherent ruach in each of us to guide me. Had I done so, our relationship would have flourished even more deeply. Yet, I had held forth in ignorant judgment without really knowing all the details. My thoughtless statement all those years ago had taken the breath out of our relationship.
I praise God that my friend is a deeply spiritual woman, a person who recognizes God’s acts in her life. This particular day, thankfully, Christ would make his presence in our conversation known.
Spiritual leading is a real thing! Other times when I have had difficult conversations to begin, I have felt the same leading. Having come to trust that it really is God giving me input, I called. We spoke honestly about what had happened and she shared how horribly wounded and surprised she had been by my words. I told her how I had been deeply “convicted” after that conversation, realizing my distinctly unloving way of talking with her. I cautiously asked her if she could forgive me, holding my breath for a couple of seconds as she hesitated. Yet, she did forgive me! What joy! What love — Christ’s love.
Psalm 150 says:
When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
The sin that had weighed my friend and me down over the years was similar to what Psalm 150 relates. My judgment had created an atmosphere in our relationship where I “hid my face” in despair and unbelief in ever being forgiven — and thus not asking. I often could not see that my friend was having a difficult day, week, or more. I could not honestly present myself as a friend who would listen without judgment for that would not have been my friend’s experience of our relationship.
The lessons I have learned over the years have made it imperative to notice folks who are upset, lost, or confused. Only when I do am I able to regain my breath, lost and suppressed over the years. By simply making eye contact, I acknowledge their existence. Yet, there are also times when I shamefully, deliberately refuse to “see” others; I “hide” my face; I turn away.
That is exactly when I remember Psalm 150, “When you hide your face, they are dismayed.” We tend not to realize that the Psalms are some of the most instructive scriptures we have as to how we are to live in this world. Noticing “others” is the first step to bringing the Spirit and the fresh breath of Christ to those who are in great need of such a refreshing gift. I consider how I can bring the Breath back to them.
Mostly, what I notice is that they are like me. I fall back on Jesus’ promise to always be with me (us). Remembering that promise is a consistent “tool” in conversations with those who are upset, lost, or confused. There are times when I struggle to be truly present with people — any people — yet God will put them on my path.
I need my breath. Whether I am preparing to speak in front of a lot of people or simply the one whom God has given me to accompany, I stop and breathe so that my brain is fully oxygenated, and I am more relaxed. My “breath” practice enables me to be more aware of Christ’s movement and is quite simple. The practice can be done at any time.
I invite you to take a few minutes and enjoy breathing! Begin by sitting down in a firm chair, with your feet flat on the floor. Sit up straight and let your arms rest in your lap. Take note of your breathing. Is it short and shallow? Or deep and cleansing? Or somewhere in between?
Ready?
Before beginning, take two or three regular breaths, taking note of any tension you feel in your throat or chest or belly. Allow your belly to relax and expand with your breath.
When you are ready, simply look straight ahead (you can keep your eyes open or close them if you prefer) and breathe in deeply and slowly inviting God’s healing and kindness.
Hold that breath for a couple of seconds, allowing that healing and kindness to settle. Breathe out purposefully and in a controlled slow exhale.
How do you feel? Did your shoulders drop? Is your body a bit more relaxed? If not, repeat the process another time and take note of where the tightness might be in your body and think of releasing that tension as you breathe out.
Finished? Feeling better? Are you feeling a bit closer to God? More open to God’s direction?
Remember to always give thanks to God for your breath!
Spiritual director, author, wife and mother (not always in that order), Daphne Reiley has published two books — A Tapestry of Love, The Spirituality of Caregiving (co-authored with Rev. Dr. Joseph LaGuardia), and Love, Then Listen, Sharing My Son’s Journey Toward His True Gender, published by Nurturing Faith — with a third, Relentless Love, scheduled for release in Spring 2025.