Breathe

 Friday, December 19, 2008

Breathe

As I was driving down the Sam Houston toll-way my chest began to hurt so badly I thought I was going to die right then and there. I pulled over to the shoulder of the road and got out of the car - I just needed to stand up for a second to catch my breath. The pain in my upper back was excruciating. After a few moments, and some unusual stares by passing motorists I reentered the car, and painfully resumed my trip home from the airport. I had been on a two week business trip and just wanted to make it home.

I made it to there, but that was about it. Instead of calling 911 I called my girlfriend, Karen and asked her to come home from work ASAP. By the time she got there, (approximately 15 minutes later) I realized I truly needed medical help. This was getting serious! I had to quickly get over my disdain for medical bills, and concede that she take me to the nearest hospital. We didn’t make it there directly though, as she stopped at a nearby 24 - hour emergency clinic in fear that I wouldn’t make the next ten miles alive. They quickly transferred me to West Houston Medical Center via an ambulance.

Notions of a heart attack soon gave way to chest x-rays and the obvious evidence of a serious case of pneumonia. According to the MDs both of my lungs were nearly filled to capacity with fluid. - Results of an almost six-month old case of pneumonia that I had let go untreated. After a week of aggressive treatment I emerged from the hospital a new man. No more pain in my chest and upper back that had plagued my body for so long. No more of the hacking and coughing, which had been persistent forever it seemed. (You quickly get the picture that I’m really kind of stupid when it comes to health issues, don’t you?) After about a month of recovery and some serious medication consumption I could finally breathe through the full capacity of my lungs - I mean really breathe! Deep long breathes that had been absent in my life for more than half a year now.

Although this incident in my life is more than ten years past, in 2006 I had a similar situation - this time though there were no medical facilities, or Med-School graduates with their ridiculously outrageous charges for things such as “consultation.” No, this time I was treated - then healed by God himself. I learned to breathe again by accepting the forgiveness that the Cross of Calvary extends to those that are sick and afflicted in spirit and soul. Jesus truly is the great physician for the lost and desperate - and thus was I healed.

Did you know that in both the original Greek and Hebrew translations of the Bible the same word was used for breath as well as for spirit? The Greek word “nooma” represents Breath and Spirit, one and the same! Makes sense as to why we feel such a calming presence over our bodies when God breathes His spirit into us. To breathe is defined by man as “the taking in and letting out of air” - but to really breathe is defined by the Almighty wordsmith as “to take in fully His Holy Spirit.”

I’ve been reminded lately that one of the most consistent characteristics of a “true Christian” is the aura of a calming presence in our conversations, and interactions with others. This is a real, tale-tale sign according to the very knowledgeable spiritual leaders in my life, and now I’m beginning to understand even more so the truth in this precept.

Confusion and discord is the manifestation of a “breath” that comes from the spirit of the Enemy and is (just as, if not more) obvious to our sight, taste, sound, smell, and touch. It fills the lungs, hearts, and the minds of its victims with the fluids of hatred, racism, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and so often abusiveness. It’s an ever-present foul breath, or spirit that is exposed through words and actions. Bottom line - it’s a pneumonia like sickness which consumes the bodies of so many today!

On the other hand, Love (the kind of love that can only come from God) manifests itself through our Christian spirit, and breath - to fill rooms and relationships with a peace that truly surpasses all understanding.

Take just a minute and stop reading, stop thinking, stop looking, stop listening and close your eyes and take a couple of long, slow breathes. Come on, just do it!

Now, didn’t that feel relaxing? Did you feel God’s presence? Its calming affect is truly a healing balm for our troubled souls, and worried minds. Maybe we should do this more often? Come unto me all who are weak and (heavy laden) burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

He calls; Come unto Me, and I will give you a new nooma……doug