Respiration

More and more I come to realize that although breathing is a mindless act, when breathing becomes intentional, it becomes all the more beautiful.

Breathing is an essential part of our daily lives; it delivers oxygen to our tired muscles and organs. However, it's also an art. People walk around enjoying the life they've been given without realizing they breathe all the time. When they are working harder, they breathe harder, and in periods of peace and calm, they breathe lighter. So much of breathing depends on the physical state of the body.

But, what if breathing could be something more than a mindless physical act? What if breathing could be used to bring us closer to our Creator? Could breathing, usually known to be an act needed for the body, uplift the soul as well?

I would say yes. If I'm surrounded by beauty or wonder, or if I'm plagued by stress or restlessness, I'll breathe intentionally. One deep, very slow breath in through the nose, without making any sound; filling the lungs to their capacity. And then out through the mouth, very slow, once again without making any noise. As I breathe in, I close my eyes, and as I breathe out, I open them again. This centers me; it brings my life back into focus.

A prayer will usually accompany my breathing. But the whole idea of it is to stop. To focus solely on one thing: life. Breath is life. And when you are full of breath, you become acutely aware of the gift you've been granted by your Creator. That you live to breathe in this second, no matter the circumstances around you. You've ignored the circumstances for the time being; right now, all you know is breath and breath is life and God gave life. We exist to glorify Him, because He gave life to everything. Without God, there is no life. And breath is a good reminder of what He's done.

In Genesis 2:7, we see that "...God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." (HCSB)

Looking at the Hebrew, the word 'naphach' is the verb for breathing. It means to blow, quite literally, but it can also mean to lose life. To give up life. And in this context, that makes a lot of sense; God poured His life out into Adam to create a man from the dust. So when we fill our lungs with breath, we remind ourselves that we're only here because God wanted us here. He put a bit of Himself - His life-breath - in us.

Then, in the New Testament, we reach the Second Adam: "And Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.' Saying this, He breathed His last." - Luke 23:46 (HCSB)

Looking at the Greek, we see the word 'ekpneō,' which means to breathe out one's life. On the cross, Jesus didn't just exhale; He breathed out His life. The life that God has breathed (naphach) into every living creature was returned to the Creator; given up by the living creature in order to pass away. Jesus quite literally gave His life up for us; not just in that He sacrificed Himself for us, but that He breathed out His spirit, giving it up to the Father.

When I go through my breathing routine, it brings me closer to Jesus. For some, it may be making the sign of the cross on their head, shoulders, and chest. For others it could be raising their hands during worship. For me, it's breathing. When I breathe in, I'm reminded God gave me life to live in order to glorify Him; when I breathe out, I'm reminded that Jesus died to bring meaning to my life. Without Jesus, what meaning is there to our mundane existence? With Jesus comes a dynamic life full of vibrancy. 

Plumb just came out with a new album, titled "Exhale." The following lyrics are pulled from the title track:

"Just let go!
Let His love wrap around you,
and hold you close!
Get lost in the surrender;
breathe it in until your heart breaks,
then exhale." - Plumb

Breathing, in a sense, requires surrender. You open your body up to accept air that you don't know the contents of, in order to maintain life. It's a metaphor for our relationship with our God! We either open ourselves up - surrender - to a God that is enigmatic and ultimately unknowable, or close ourselves up and refuse His intervention in our lives. The former brings life, and the latter brings asphyxiation.

But our God doesn't want us to stop there! He wants us to fill ourselves with Him so completely, until it hurts, and then let His character overflow into our own lives as we encounter a suffocating world. We exhale, and with every breath that leaves our body, a portion of His love and grace should touch those around us. Scientifically, when breathing normally, oxygen leaves our body in the form of water vapor; it's unavoidable. But all that oxygen is consumed if a breath is held in too long; the body starves itself of oxygen and then uses every last 'drop' left in the lungs... it can be painful!

When speaking to His disciples before His death, Jesus said, "This is My command: love one another as I have loved you," - John 15:12 (HCSB). Jesus poured everything into His disciples, and they accepted His gift willingly. But they did not stop there! They proceeded to outpour their own lives (which were now mingled with the love and grace of Christ) into those around them. They changed the world because they chose to 'exhale.'

God doesn't want us to hold His provision in our lives to ourselves. We are called to breathe - inhale and exhale - and offer His love, grace, and provision to those around us! Everyone that has been placed in our individual sphere of influence should be recipients of His oxygen. We cannot hold this to ourselves!

Breathing is essential to our lives. It keeps us alive so that we can serve our Creator, while it also offers insight into His character and the way we should relate to others. Not only does God want to bless us with Himself, He also expects us to exhale His benefits onto others. And when we do so, we are following our call to #LiveItLikeJesus.