Take a Deep Breath - September 23

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm [83] or 34; PM Psalm 85, 86; 2 Kings 9:1-16; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; Matt. 6:1-6,16-18

Often, when studying a new language, you learn more about your own language, or at least that has always been the case for me.  Hebrew, like many other languages, has sounds that are guttural, others that are hard sounding.   What Hebrew does not have in its written language are vowels.  Three of the letters in Hebrew, ‘Yod’, ‘Hey’, ‘Vav’ which in English are often translated as ‘Y’, ‘H’ and ‘V’ or ‘W’ are known as aspirant consonants (This was very new to me when I studied Hebrew but we have aspirated consonants in English too!). These letters, when spoken, require aspiration with the amount of breath pushed out when you say the letters.   

In Hebrew, one of the ways that God is named is simply the Hebrew letters YHVH.  Translations that try to acknowledge the Hebrew name of God often write Yahweh adding two vowels to make the word construction make sense.  Hebrew had vowel sounds but they were not contained in the letters.  

It is not a mistake that God’s name is literally the sound of breath.  In Genesis, God takes red clay (Adamah) and forms the clay into man.  However, this form, later named Adam, is only a vessel until God breathes life into him.  Breath or spirit is the animating force behind who we are.  This makes sense physiologically because one of the signs of life is breath!

I think Paul, a Greek Jew, was deeply shaped by these ideas.  He refers to our bodies as temples animated by the Holy Spirit.  He writes to the community in Corinth, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?”

I don’t think it is a stretch to claim that God dwells within each of us.  It’s a little bit farther than we are made in the image of God. God has breathed life into each of us.  We also breathe life into the world.   If you are struggling to see God in your life, maybe it’s as simple as slowing down and paying attention to your breathing.  Or maybe just slowing down and listening. 

A deep breath goes a long way to calm worries.  Maybe because it’s a reminder that God is with us.  Take a deep breath and know that you are not alone.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  How often are you aware of your breathing?  How often do you slow down enough without other distractions?  What are your practices of listening to yourself? 

Daily Challenge: Find a quiet place.  Set your phone timer for three minutes and close your eyes and spend a few minutes slowly breathing and listening to your breath.