catching his breath

The title of this blog expresses a constant craving in my life. In John chapter 20 Jesus breathes on his disciples, identifying their reception of the Holy Spirit in the act. This imagery more than likely brought to their minds God’s creative breath of life (Genesis 2:7). And today this creative force acts in bringing to reality a new world, resurrecting agents of new creation. When I fail to inhale the breath of Jesus, a world smothered in darkness has little trouble knocking the wind out of me. I need to catch his breath to catch mine. Thus, catching his breath is the intentional pursuit of my life.

Of course, more images help our attempt to grasp the transformational power of God’s Spirit: fire, the dove, light. But I have chosen breath. I relate to the feeling, to hunching over, gasping for air. I also know the exhilaration of catching my breath, capturing in that breath the strength to go on. But to catch his? That’s life abundant.

The blog will contain some of my personal reflection as I struggle to catch his breath. There will be theological reflections and papers, poetic expressions, devotional thoughts and some of how I am making this attempt personally in my family, my role as a minister, as a friend and citizen in my community. I believe every kingdom purpose and action finds its source in the breath of God embodied in his people. So the specific topics of the blog will vary widely.

I hope you’ll join the conversation. Do not fear judgment. I welcome honest, constructive disagreement. Community dialogue and wisdom in conjunction with the Spirit of God functions as the impetus to meet the struggles and challenges God’s people face in a world still dazed in the aftermath of the fall. Check out the blog tab and chime in.

I encourage you to spend some time with the following excerpt from T.S. Elliot’s poem Four Quartets 4: Little Gidding.

The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tongues declare
The one discharge from sin and error.
The only hope, or else despair
Lies in the choice of pyre of pyre—
To be redeemed from fire by fire.

Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar Name
Behind the hands that wove
The intolerable shirt of flame
Which human power cannot remove.
We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire.