Breathing the air

breathe the airA few years ago, an improvisational comedian who was famous for his witty remarks turned 91. Date of birth. The event brought all of his friends and relatives together and was well attended by news reporters. During an interview at the party, the predictable and most important question for him was: "To whom or what do you attribute your long life to?" Without hesitation, the comedian replied: "Breathing!" Who can disagree?

We could say the same thing in a spiritual sense. Just as physical life depends on the breathing of the air, so all spiritual life depends on the Holy Spirit or the "holy breath". The Greek word for spirit is "pneuma", which can be translated as wind or breath.
The apostle Paul describes life in the Holy Spirit in the following words: «For those who are carnal are carnal; but those who are spiritual are spiritually minded. But to be carnal is death, and spiritually is life and peace »(Romans 8,5-6).

The Holy Spirit dwells in those who believe the gospel, the good news. This spirit bears fruit in the life of a believer: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, chastity; the law is not against any of this »(Galatians 5,22-23).
This fruit not only describes how we live when the Holy Spirit dwells in us, it describes what God is like and how he treats us.

«We have recognized and believed the love that God has for us: God is love; and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him »(1. John 4,16). We are here to bring forth this fruit, to be a blessing to those around us.

Who do we attribute our spiritual longevity to? Inhaling God's breath. Life in the Spirit - the life lived by believing in the Son of God.

We have a most fulfilling and rewarding life when the Holy Spirit dwells in us, who is our spiritual breath. So we can feel alive and strengthened.

by Joseph Tkach