Pentecost Reflection: Breath of Love

Scripture from the book of Numbers 11:24-30

²⁴ So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. ²⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

²⁶ Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷ And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” ²⁸ And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men,^[a] said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” ²⁹ But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” ³⁰ And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

Have you ever read a passage from some place and for some reason, feel drawn to what was being said? You may not fully understand why you are being drawn to the words that are written, but you feel deep in your soul. This is what I discovered with this passage several days ago.

When I read this passage, I was reminded of a bible study session at my home church, Wake Forest Christian Church, in which we were watching one of Rob Bell’s Nooma videos called “Breath”. In the video, Bell shares that in the bible, the word LORD was translated from the original word in Hebrew, Yahweh. However, the ancient Hebrew people would not pronounce the word Yahweh because of how sacred God’s name is. So instead, they would state only the vowel sounds YHWH, which if pronounced would be “Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey”. And in the video, Bell makes the profound statement that has always stayed with me, “Is the name of God…the sound of breathing?”

I am reminded of that bible study when I read this scripture. We see that Moses taught the “words of the LORD”. I have to wonder though, if the name of God is indeed the sound of breathing, would Moses be simply teaching the people how to breathe? It’s an interesting question and even more interesting the fact that we know that the Hebrew word for Spirit (Ruach) is also the same word for Breath and Wind. And the passage states that God’s Spirit came from the clouds (which is made of wind), came to Moses and then from Moses came to the seventy elders that were gathered. And once the Spirit dwelled among the elders, the elders were able to prophesy.

What is the connection between God’s Spirit and the ability to prophesy? In my belief, God is the eternal source of love. And when we learn how to breathe fully and deeply, we are loving ourselves and when we honor and respect the breath that lives within another human being, we are loving them as well.

And while prophets have mistakenly gotten the reputation as powerful beings that can foretell the future, this could not be further from the truth. Prophets are regular people, just like you and me. But prophets are indeed special, because true prophets’ model what it means to love our neighbors by speaking and acting on behalf of God’s wishes for humanity.

When we prophesy, we are remembering the Spirit that dwells within our very breath and partnering with the Spirit of God as we pour our love for our world.

But to love is not easy. Love means speaking out against injustices that occur in our world. Love means caring for others when it is not easy to do so. Love is standing with the broken-hearted and not casting judgments but understanding what our neighbors are going through. Love is bridging gaps that have broken relationships and creating a new path for reconciliation when possible.

It honestly doesn’t surprise me that the 70 elders in the camp were only able to prophesy once. To love and pour out one’s love in God’s name is extremely draining and, in our world, rest is a gift that is not always given. But what’s extraordinary is that two other men from the camp, Eldad and Medad, felt the Spirit’s call and began to prophesy on their own. And while Joshua was not happy with this, Moses was pleased and encouraged it.

To me this represents an important lesson- if we are not called to prophesy (either because we don’t know how, we doubt ourselves, or we are drained and tired), we still have a part to play. We can encourage, support, and cheer on those who are still pouring our God’s love into the world.

Our world needs more prophets. Injustice threatens to consume our world and love is needed now more than ever to create change for our world. Change in which people no longer fear jogging or being killed by police. Change in which all people: Black, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, White, Gay, Trans, Bi, Straight, Women, Non-binary, Men, Older, Younger, those with common and uncommon functioning- are able to truly stand together as equal neighbors and create together a better world.

Today, on the day of Pentecost, this is my hope and prayer:

May we take a breath and know that we are breathing in God’s Holy Spirit and in that breath, may we be filled with the strength and courage to prophesy the love of God that needs to be breathed into our world. And if we are tired or having trouble breathing, may we support those who continue to do the hard work of love for our world. And in all things, May the Divine of your understanding grant you peace, wisdom, and understanding to help make our world a better place to live in.

Blessed be. Amen.

Celebrating in a New Way

When the word “Celebration” came up, I used to believe that it only meant a time of rejoicing about something good in the world or in one’s life. For example, many of us celebrate on holidays. Mothers Day being the most convenient example. Throughout Facebook, I see post after post of people celebrating how much they love their mothers and how thankful they are for all the amazing things their mothers have done for them. And I’m rejoicing right alongside them. I’m so thankful so many people have mothers who cared for them and raised them to be the people they are today.

However, I realized today that I am not only celebrating Mother’s Day in thanksgiving for other mothers. I am also celebrating in honor of my mother. But my celebration isn’t 100% joyful or rejoicing. Most of my celebration comes with grief.

I am saddened that I am not able to be physically with my mother both today and the rest of my life. I am saddened that on the many tough days I’ve been experiencing, I’m not able to call my mother on the phone and seek her counsel or hear her tell me things are going to be okay. Today, I am hurt and I am sad.

And yet…I celebrate Mother’s Day.

And I know I am not alone. Mother’s Day is a very complicated holiday. There are many children who have lost their mothers like me. 

But there are also women who have lost children. 

Women who want to conceive but are unable to. 

People who were abandoned by their mothers. 

Women who had no choice but to give their children up. 

People who were abused by their mothers. 

Women who choose not to have children but are critiqued for their choices. 

And now with COVID-19, there are those who grieve not being able to be at their mother’s beside in the hospitals.

Mother’s Day is a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving, but it is also a day of lament, sadness, anger, and even pain.

It’s this reason that I choose no longer to define celebration as a way of expressing rejoice. I see celebration as a time of expression. Expressing the emotions that need to be shared.

You can celebrate by lighting a candle and crying from your pain. You can celebrate by writing a letter of the anger you feel. You can celebrate by remembering good times and not so good times. You can do all of these things or none of these things. The choice is up to you in how you celebrate the multitude of emotions that Mother’s Day and any holiday may have in store for you.

Today, I will cry from my losses. I will give thanks for the women who have been like mothers to me in my life. And I will remember all the memories I did have with my mom and lament possible memories that were lost after she died.

My hope for you is that you take some time today to celebrate anyway you need to. I hope you are able to express your emotions, no matter what they are, and find someone who cares for you enough to never judge you for the emotions you express.

May your Spirit be blessed today and the days ahead,

Blessed Be and Amen.