These lyrics by The Police could seem reassuring or a little creepy depending on who's saying them.
I've had the word "Breathe" on my mind for several days. It could be because I've just plowed through eight seasons of "Call the Midwife." I've seen a baby being born every single day for several weeks. Sometimes the baby isn't breathing and that first breath requires some assistance from the midwife.
Or it could be that my niece is unwell and I'm thinking about and praying for her every day. Her dad, my brother, died a few years ago after suffering for years with COPD. Every breathe was a struggle.
Or it could be because Ken Carter, bishop of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, preached at my church this past Sunday. This was Pentecost Sunday.
The bishop first talked about the previous year and how it impacted all of our lives.
Learning to breathe while wearing a mask.
Needing a ventilator.
George Floyd.
"I can't breathe."
Acts 2 (the Pentecost story) tells us about how, a few weeks after Jesus died and was resurrected, his followers were kind of depressed. They still didn't quite get it. So on this day, amid a big crowd of people the Holy Spirit blew through with a "sound like the blowing wind." and empowered them. This story is mysterious. Many, if not most of us don't quite get Holy Spirit thing. For me, being "empowered" is what it's all about. Women, especially in my age group, are generally uncomfortable with the concept of empowerment. But acknowledging it has changed my life in significant ways.
And even now, at my age and stage, most of the time, I feel empowered.
Breathe on me breathe of God, Fill me with life anew.
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