Dearly Beloved, Grace and Peace to you.
In both biblical languages there is one word for “breath, “wind,” and “spirit:” ruach in Hebrew and pneuma in Greek. Our English retains a remnant of the connection between breath and spirit, in respiration and inspiration. And to expire, to lose the Spirit, is to die.
In the beginning God’s spirit-breath-wind broods (like a mother hen) over the waters… and brings forth Creation. God fashions us from the earth and breathes God’s own spirit-life-breath into us and we become a living being. After Jesus’ resurrection he breathes his spirit-breath-life into his followers so that they become his body, one body. At Pentecost, they hear the sound of a mighty wind-breath-spirit and catch fire with love. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5.5). Our love is God breathing in us.
Holy Spirit is God within us and among us. Holy Spirit is God’s love in us, God’s breath in us, one breath in all of us, one Spirit in many (seemingly) bodies. When we love God or love neighbor we are not reaching out to a separate other, but re-connecting with ourselves, with God. We share respiration and inspiration. We conspire: we “breathe with” God. All of life is a conspiracy, breathing with God and with each other; sharing one breath, sharing one Spirit, one life.
Breathe deeply of God, and conspire with God to breathe life into this world in love.
Deep Blessings, Pastor Steve
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net