a note from rev. sharon

Dear St. John’s,
I’ve been thinking a lot about breathing during these last few days of smoky haze and dangerously high levels of air pollution.
I suspect most people most of the time don’t spend much time thinking about breathing. It happens automatically. We take it for granted.
That changes when we’re bombarded with unhealthy levels of tiny particles in the air from distant wildfires or when we catch a respiratory illness like the flu or COVID-19 or we suffer from a chronic condition such as asthma or emphysema. Our breathing becomes labored. We realize how precious and vital it is for our existence.
In Hebrew, the word Ruach means wind, breath, spirit. Ruach, the Spirit of God, is there from the beginning, hovering over the waters at creation in the Book of Genesis.
Like the air we breathe, the Spirit of God may be something we ordinarily don’t think about too much. But it, too surrounds us, moves within us and is vital to our existence. The Spirit strengthens and guides us, if we only will pay attention.
As our skies finally begin to clear, let us give thanks for the gift of clean air to breath. And let us continue to remember and give thanks for the Spirit of God that envelops us in God’s love and remains with us, even when our earthly breath subsides.
Rev. Sharon

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