Dear Edgeboro Friends & Family,

Once again, we have made it to the part of the church year called “Ordinary Time.” I suppose this time is “ordinary” in the sense that things slow down, at least in comparison to other “high holiday” times in the church year like Advent and Easter. This “slow down” time is reflected in some ways in our lives – school is done, most things associated with “year-end” stuff at work has passed, and vacation times begin. But are things really “ordinary” and “slowed down” in the summer? Camps, summer jobs, vacations, sports, and other activities occupy our times. Things are different, but for a lot of us, these things are anything but “ordinary” and “slowed down.”

With that said, it’s a good time to remember that in addition to it being “Ordinary Time,” it is also the season of Pentecost – the season of the Holy Spirit. Throughout this time, we remember that the Holy Spirit was given to us by God so that we might never be alone in being Christ’s witnesses to the world. A great way we can remember this is found in something that we always must do – breathe! With every breath, we can remember the Holy Spirit’s presence with us.

The following is reprinted from what I wrote last year in The Envoy at this time and still very much applies to what I am writing about now.

In the gospel of John, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into the disciples. In addition to that, the Greek word (pneuma) and the Hebrew word (ruach) for spirit, as in Holy Spirit, is the same word used for breath.

Do we think about breathing as a way of directly connecting with the Holy Spirit? Whether we just need to find a moment to breathe during the busyness of life, or we feel like we need a breath of fresh air in whatever we are doing, let’s use those times to stay connected with the Holy Spirit. Here’s a prayer that can help us do just that in many different circumstances.

Busy? Take a minute anyway to pray the following, saying the bold words out loud:

Be still and know that I am God (A deep breath in. A slow breath out. Keep reading.)

Be still and know that I am (There will be time, God’s time, for you today.)

Be still and know (Another breath. Another moment.)

Be still (Be held. Be loved.)

Be (Breathe.)

Be still (Wait. Watch. Listen.)

Be still and know (Life and motion and being in Him.)

Be still and know that I am (Love that won’t quit, all that’s fair and right.)

Be still and know that I am God. Amen.

Reprinted with permission from author. Copyright © 2016 Rev. Brian Dixon. Keeping Time: Dances to the Beat of a Different Drummer. Published by IBOC of Moravian Church in North America.

Living in the Spirit with you,

Pastor Dan