Power of the Breath

Everyone breathes.  (Always good to start with the obvious...)  Breathing is a fundamental part of being human.  Little children will sometimes hold their breath as a way of protest, but eventually, the protestor has to take a big gulp of air.  Sometimes, when adults are in a very stressful or fearful situation, we may - unconsciously - hold our breath.  It is as though, in the presence of a perceived threat, we just shut down.  We may hold our breath, until the situation resolves itself.  Then, we let out a big exhale.

Breathing is fundamental.

That is why it is such a delight, such a powerful delight, when we learn that the word for "breath" in both Hebrew and Greek (the two primary languages in which the Bible is written) is the same as the word for "spirit" and "wind."  In Greek, the word is pneuma (pronounced noo-mah).  In Hebrew, the word is ruach (pronounced roo-ach, kind of like you're spitting).  These words mean "breath," "spirit," and "wind."

Breath = Spirit = Wind.  The biblical languages are giving us a HUGE GIFT.

In the Genesis 1 creation story, according to the New Revised Standard Version, "a wind from God swept over the face of the waters."  It could equally read, "God's breath swept over the face of the waters."  Or, "God's Spirit swept over the face of the waters."  In John 20:22, we read that the resurrected Jesus breathed on his disciples, and told them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Breath.  Spirit.  Wind.

What is so powerful about this is that we breathe all the time.  That means that we may imagine - with every breath - that we are breathing in the power of God's Spirit to us, and breathing out the power of God's Spirit to others and to the world.

Some people complain that they have never had an experience of the Holy Spirit.  They long to have a personal experience of the Spirit of God.  The powerfully great news of the biblical language is that you can have a personal experience of God's Spirit anytime, as long as you're breathing.  With every inhalation of breath, you can draw in the comfort, guidance, clarity, forgiveness, strength, mercy, kindness, power, and all other gifts of the Spirit.  And with every exhalation of breath, you become a missionary, sending those same gifts out into the world.

Breathe in.  Breathe out.  How great is that?