We’re so grateful for another post by Retreat & Conference Center presenters Susan Boruff and 
Kathy Anderson. They will be at our Center June 17-21 to present, “Healing Our World One Person at a Time: Discovering How God’s Love Transforms Ourselves, Our Families, Our Communities and Our World”. To learn more about the retreat and these presenters, please click here. Let’s take a moment to breathe as we read Susan’s post. There is also a meditation at the end by Kathy Anderson.
Let Your Love Flow
During this uncertain, fearful time we need to be aware of how we can continue to let our love flow through us to others, rather than become imprisoned by fear. How to let our faith increase and not decrease. One way to overcome fear is to remember our connection with God. Right now, it is important to be vessels of God’s beauty, truth and hope. To allow His Love and Grace to flow through us to others. Paying attention to our breath reminds us of our connectedness to the Source of Life: Spirit. Why is breathwork so important?
It helps us keep our focus on God and less on the distractions of this world. We live in a world of distractions. Breathwork also calms the body and subsequently calms the mind.
In both Hebrew and Greek, the same word is used for breath, wind and spirit. The Hebrew word for breath, wind and spirit is Ruach and the Greek word is Pneuma. In Genesis 2:7, “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being.” It is through God’s breath that we have life.
Many religious traditions believe that the foundation of our inner work is in the breath. In John 20:21-22, Jesus said: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit.” We can become aware of the Holy Spirit flowing through us by paying attention to the breath.
In Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, the Sufi’s believe the more that one is able to be conscious of one’s breathing, the stronger one’s inner life. Every breath we take can be a remembrance of God. The Sufi’s use the sound of the letter “ah” which is part of the name of Allah, for every inhalation and exhalation. We can do the same with the old testament Hebrew name of God, Yahweh.
We can breathe in “Yah” and breathe out “weh.” Do this now. Breathe in “Yah” filling up your lungs slowly from the diaphragm, through the chest and up to the clavicle, breathe out “weh,” emptying your lungs from the upper chest, middle chest and diaphragm. Do this 5 times.
We just finished the Lenten season where we were invited to examine our lives, particularly to plumb the depths of our heart. In Genesis 2:15, we are told that man needs to “work the soil.” Rabbi Rami Shapiro offers the following interpretation: the soil we are to till is the soil of self. Tilling the soil means to turn over, to break up the hard and dry patches, to let in fresh air and light, to bring life.
Where are the hard, dry patches in your life? Where do you need to bring in fresh air and light? Where do we need to bring in new life? We can honor our Lord’s resurrection by bringing new life into our lives. Fresh air (BREATH) helps things grow.
In 1 Peter, St. Peter frequently reminds us to “love one another deeply from the heart.” We suggest that the practice of breathing deeply will facilitate loving deeply and allowing God’s love to flow through you more freely.
I wrote this newsletter one very early morning about three weeks ago when there was much talk about ventilators in the news. Without my husband, Brian, knowing my topic, he suggested I title my next newsletter: Let The Holy Spirit Be Your Ventilator. Maybe that should be the title for this one.
Now I invite you to an Open Your Heart Meditation practice led by Kathy Anderson.
Hello Friends, to prepare for the meditation, please find a quiet place with a comfortable chair and sit with a straight back. The meditation is 12 minutes.
If you’d like to learn more about Susan and Kathy’s ministry, Take Twelve Today, please click here.
2 replies on “Let Your Love Flow”
Thank you for the reflection on the meanings of the word ‘breath’ and ‘breathe’ – it reminded me of the Latin word ‘anima’ – which also means breath or spirit or life. I also loved the idea of using the word ‘Yahweh’ as a mantra/prayer for breathing in and breathing out. We can offer up every breath we take as a prayer. And thank you also for the meditation on breathing and love – and sending love out to the world. This is also an exercise for us to feel gratitude for the breaths we are able to take – knowing that so many people around the world are struggling to breathe as a result of the coronavirus. What a perfect meditation to send out healing love to all those struggling to breathe from the virus.
Thank You – Bon Secours – for sharing these daily reflections, prayers, and meditations.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. We really appreciate your feedback and support, Judith. Take care.