Breathing the Divine

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Fr. Thomas Keating, Trappist monk, once wrote, "We rarely think of air we breathe, yet it is in us and around us all the time.  In similar fashion, the presence of God penetrates us, is all around us, is always embracing us, and it is delightful."

In Genesis we read these words, "On the day the LORD God made earth and sky - before any wild plants appeared on the earth, and before any field crops grew...the LORD God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life's breath into his nostrils.  The human came to life." (Genesis 2:1-7, Common English Bible) 

We rarely think of the air we breathe.  However, maybe we should.  The Divine breath is in each one of us.  We cannot get away from it.  It permeates the very blood that courses through our veins and the air that fills our lungs.  We cannot flee the presence of God any more than we can run from our own breath. 

Take heart.  God is with you.  God fills every breath you draw. 

Divine Breath

Ceaseless
Ever present

Change of seasons
Passage of time

Simplistic rhythm
Enigmatic process

Filling with life
Purging of death

Ceaseless
Ever present

Rising of the sun
Appearance of the moon

Proximity unnoticed
Necessity irrefutable

Providing life’s essence
Expelling its poison

Ceaseless
Ever present

Air we breathe
Sustenance we need

Intimacy overlooked
Impact undeniable 

Bestowing new life
Conquering sin’s infliction

Ceaseless
Ever present

Beat of life
Power to live

Heart’s desire
Spirit’s yearning

Loving with passion
Living within
                      --- by Brian Shivers

Let me know what you are thinking and DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    oh i needed that. going to add "dont forget to breathe" as an addendum to "remember three things"

    ReplyDelete

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