Sucker Punched

One of the absolute worst feelings in the world is getting the wind knocked out of you. Whether it came from a rogue soccer ball when you were in 3rd grade, a sucker punch from the bully with the rat tail, or from a regular good old brotherly brawl. The feeling is awful. As the air is suddenly forced from your lungs panic and fear flood into your whole body. The first time it happens you think you are dying.

There is no coming back from this.

That’s it.

Life is over.

If you have been fortunate enough to have this happen to you multiple times you know that the fear and panic still flood your body, but because of past experiences you know that you aren’t actually dying and that in a moment your feeble attempts to take a breath will actually begin to circulate oxygen through your body.

Sometimes the gut punch comes not from a soccer ball, a bully, or your brother. Sometimes the gut punch comes from life. My family and I have had two solid gut punches thrust into our diaphragms this past week that have left us gasping for air. At first, it felt like we were dying, that there was no way we could take another breath and keep moving forward. This is the first time life has done this to me. I know what to do when a fist hits me in the gut, but this was a new feeling. I had no idea what to do when life came swinging out of nowhere.

As many of you know I enjoy theology. I enjoy studying the Bible and thinking deeply about the things of God, but I also want those things to connect to real life. This week as I have been sitting here gasping for air, I have been reminded that the word used for spirit in the Bible is the same word used for breath. God breathed over the waters at creation. God breathed life into the first humans. We receive God’s breath at the waters of baptism. The Holy Spirit is God’s very breath.

This has given me great comfort as I have been gasping for air. When I feel like I can’t breathe…

When taking another breath feels impossible…

I have been calling upon the breath of God to fill me.

I can’t fill my lungs with life.

He has to do it.

And you know what? God is gracious and has been breathing life into my empty lungs. He is the one who is slowly bringing me back to consciousness from this blow that life has dealt us. Does it make it any easier? Not really, but it gives me hope that he is with us in the midst of our gasping for air. So, friends, may we all take a deep breath knowing that God is with us.

Grace and Peace ‘til we rise in glory.