{"id":968,"date":"2010-07-19T11:06:13","date_gmt":"2010-07-19T17:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/community\/mainlineportal\/?p=968"},"modified":"2010-07-19T11:06:13","modified_gmt":"2010-07-19T17:06:13","slug":"peace-is-just-a-breath-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithforward\/2010\/07\/peace-is-just-a-breath-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Spirituality: Peace is Just a Breath Away"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

by\u00a0Bruce G. Epperly<\/em><\/p>\n

The latest post in our on-going Summer Spirituality<\/a> series.<\/em><\/p>\n

Summer is an opportunity to take a little breathing space.\u00a0 Virtually every spiritual tradition sees breath as essential to well-being and spiritual growth.\u00a0 But, many of us simply forget to breathe even though the quality of our breath shapes the quality of our lives, and often reflects our state of mind.<\/p>\n

A few months ago in a piece in Patheos, I shared the words of one of my spiritual teachers, Allen Armstrong Hunter.\u00a0 These words have shaped my spirituality and given me calm and insight for over thirty years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI breathe the spirit deeply in<\/p>\n

And blow it gratefully out again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the years, I have often found a sense of well-being in times of challenge by following the practice of Thich Nhat Hanh:<\/p>\n

\u201cBreathing in, I calm my body.<\/p>\n

Breathing out I smile.<\/p>\n

Dwelling in the present moment,<\/p>\n

I know this is a wonderful moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

I see breath as a gentle way of experiencing God\u2019s peace that passes all understanding.\u00a0 In the Gospel of John, Jesus is reported to have appeared on Easter evening in an upper room where he greets his disciples with the words \u201cPeace be with you\u201d and then:<\/p>\n

\u201cHe breathed on them and said, \u2018Receive the Holy Spirit.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Often I imagine that these words are addressed to me.\u00a0 With every breath, I am receiving God\u2019s Holy Spirit.\u00a0 With every breath, I am inspired.\u00a0 With every breath, I am rejuvenated and transformed.<\/p>\n

Spiritual growth often involves ritual and repetition, and nothing is more repetitive than our breathing.\u00a0 In my use of these breath prayers, I often imagine that every breath I take is an opening to God and that I am breathing the same air as Jesus\u2019 first disciples.\u00a0 In anxious times, this centers me and gives me courage and insight.\u00a0 Throughout the day, in my rest and activity, every breath can be a prayer, a way of opening to God, and gentle effortless way of embodying grace in every situation.<\/p>\n

In my work with professionals \u2013 pastors, physicians, nurses, and attorneys \u2013 I often stress the importance of breath weaving together in one experience of peace, the many events of a day.\u00a0 I invite these professionals to breathe in a sense of peace as they end one task and begin another; as they answer the phone or make a call; as they check e-mail or send a message; as they begin a meeting or leave for home; as they greet their loved ones or go to bed at night.\u00a0 Wholly breathing is holy breathing that enables us to experience peace and energy \u2013 and a sense of summer spaciousness \u2013 throughout the day. \u00a0Busyness is not related to the number of activities during a day, but how we experience our many activities.\u00a0 Breathing holy\/wholly enables us to discover that we are only doing one<\/em> thing, opening to God\u2019s presence, in the many varied <\/em>events of life.<\/p>\n

In the days ahead, take time to do what comes naturally \u2013 Breathe \u2013 and open to God\u2019s loving, healing, spacious, and transforming presence and energy.<\/p>\n

Read more from our Summer Spirituality series:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Summer Spirituality<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Practicing Gratitude<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Holy Adventures<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Bruce Epperly is Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Continuing Education at Lancaster Theological Seminary and co-pastor of Disciples Community Church in Lancaster, PA. He is the author of seventeen books, including Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living<\/span> and Tending to the Holy: The Practice of the Presence of God in Ministry<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Spiritual growth often involves ritual and repetition, and nothing is more repetitive than our breathing. In my use of these breath prayers, I often imagine that every breath I take is an opening to God and that I am breathing the same air as Jesus\u2019 first disciples.” Bruce Epperly continues his Summer Spirituality series…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSummer Spirituality: Peace is Just a Breath Away<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\""Spiritual growth often involves ritual and repetition, and nothing is more repetitive than our breathing. 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