The gift of love in age is that we don’t have to imagine each other young and beautiful again – as long as we take in breathfuls of love – we are.
Recently I overheard a radio message that said in effect that with every breath you take, you inhale six molecules from every breath Beyoncé exhales. This conclusion comes from a guesstimation in solving a “Fermi problem” Mathematics students are asked to struggle with.
An on-line comment on this revelation said: “The last breath I took also had six molecules of Jay Z’s breath and six molecules of Solange’s breath from a year ago. There was a mini-brawl in my lungs.”
Another remarked: Methane isn’t healthy to breathe!
All kidding aside there is much to reflect on beyond the hot air just discussed. As creatures we are grateful to the creator who out of love breathed life into us: “The breathing of Shaddai [God Almighty] that gave me life” (Job 33:4).
One of my favourite passages from Ezekiel 37:4-14 describes what the end time may be like when our bodies rise from death: “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’ Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you…that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
As we live the Christian life God’s breath as Spirit enlivens us: “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:21-
Being conscious of the breath of God in and about us can change our lives. The miraculous surrounds us daily. Finding the breath of God on the morning dew can make us grateful. Breathing love can bring peace, where breathing hatred brings discord.
We serve at God’s will as his loving breath enables us. Job 34:14-15 tell us that if God withdrew his Spirit, his Breath, from the earth even for a moment, “all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust”.
Realizing that every breath we take is a breathful of love will change us. In a poem “Breath of God” I express these sentiments:
If I were a tree and you were the air
I’d spread my boughs to touch all of you
I’d shelter you from the sun’s heat
Just to feel your cool breath
My shadows would dance
I’d never tire of new ways to love you
And I conclude with:
But I am not a tree and your breath is life
And you give me all my senses can touch
Never tiring of new ways to delight me.