John 20:19-23

Merci…

Over the past week, each morning has brought with it, the singing of birds in the backyard and surrounding areas. Their music, coming in the minutes prior to any alarm clock or sleep timer signifying the need to get going in a “time is running out” kind of way, has been mostly a pleasant way to move from sleep toward movement into the happenings of the day, and the ongoing heaviness of the times in which we live. Listening as the birds sing their tune, gratitude arises.

It is as if, the birds are trying share anticipation and excitement for the day. It is as if they are trying to say, as Maya Angelou wrote so beautifully, “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” They sing, and sing some more.

While hearing their songs more prominently in the morning, before the air starts to become filled with waves of other sounds along the way, when I listen carefully, I remember that they also sing all throughout the day. When I look more carefully, I can clearly see. Sometimes they fly, sometimes they perch, and other times they soar. Certainly they have their quiet moments too. Then there’s night, when silence comes. Yet, it seems, whatever darkness night may hold, still when morning comes, they sing their praise… trusting that the gift of the day, and the One who has granted it, is far greater than whatever may be in store.

May the God of all peoples, and all creation, inspire a song of thanks and praise at the start of each day.

May the God of mercy and compassion, inspire a song of love and care for, and to, all, throughout each day.

May the God of all peoples, and all creation, inspire a song of thanks and praise at the mid of each day.

May the God of comfort, peace, and strength, inspire a song of faith, hope, and trust at all moments throughout each day.

May the God of all peoples, and all creation, inspire a song of thanks and praise, at the end of each day.

Red

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.” – John 20:19-23

Taking the Baton…

There I was, jogging in place, raring to go, waiting in anticipation for the race to start, the baton to be handed off, and trying to be ready to receive and hold onto it, as the moment arrived and my turn approached. Although it was well over 30 years ago, I recall that relay race very well. It was a rite of passage as one prepared to transition from one school level to the next.

Transition is so much a part of life, as is competition. While change and a drive toward accomplishment can be wonderful and life altering, depending on the mood, or the spirit, operating it may, or may not, be life giving. How to tell the difference? When life feels like a race rather than a journey, or it is more about “I” and “me” than about “we” and “us,” chances are the tide is shifting, or has changed, to that of earthly matters.

In the relay race, one can be ready and raring to go, but it is only when the baton is passed, received, and held onto, that one can run their leg of the race, helping the team to accomplish the task at hand.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room (John 20:19-23), he extended them peace, showed them proof that it was really him, breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

In the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, it is through the breath of God that the dry, dead bones, come to life (Ezekiel 37). “As I watched, sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man! Say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them; they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army (verses 8-10).

In the Book of Genesis, God created the first human being, who then came alive by the breath of God (Genesis 2:7).

The breath of God—Ruah… the Spirit of God is truly life giving. By it we have been blessed into being. It is for us to take and receive over and over—ever-present and always available, to hold onto, and to be run with, or rather to be led by. When we live in and through the Spirit of God throughout our journey, life abounds, not just for ourselves, but also for those around us.

“In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

One need not run like the wind, so much as to let oneself be carried by it.

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