Sermon: Don't Hold Your Breath by Sr. Carol Perry
It is an amazing Godincidence that the week after hurricane Irene our offertory anthem should be "Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow." I was inspired by our scripture reading, taken from John 20, in which Jesus breathes on His disciples saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit!" This scene is a gentle precursor to the actual Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came not merely by Jesus' gentle breath but by the roar of a mighty wind cascading from heaven. Hmm... that sounds eerily familiar!Having planned her topic weeks ago, one wonders if Sr. Carol is a clairvoyant meteorologist in addition to her other gifts.
Who Makes the Wind?
Breathe in the penetrating truth contained in these words of Thomas Troeger, written in 1983, which the choir will sing on Sunday:
Wind who makes all winds that blow,
Gusts that bend the saplings low,
Gales that heave the sea in waves,
Stirrings in the mind's deep caves,
Aim your breath with steady power
On your church this day, this hour.
Raise, renew the life we've lost,
Spirit God of Pentecost.
Notice the second word: "Who." The Wind of whom Thomas Troeger speaks was not created by low pressure systems or colliding fronts. This is the One who makes all those things, including winds, gusts, gales -- even stirrings within the dark recesses of our very own being. Just as God breathed physical life into His creation, so Jesus breathes the Spirit's renewing life into His disciples and empowering life into His church.
A poet, author, teacher and professional flutist, Thomas Troeger is ordained in both the Presbyterian and Episcopal church. He lectures on preaching, creative worship and music in the church and is Professor of Preaching and Communication at Lliff School of Theology in Denver, Co. His inspiring hymn texts appear in numerous denominational hymnals.
The Importance of Breath
Unlike Rev. Troeger I am neither a poet nor a lyricist. I try to concentrate on music and leave those things in someone else's capable hands. For Pentecost Sunday at Marble in 2000 I was inspired to write new music to one of the great hymns of the church, "Breathe On Me, Breath of God." I composed it in the style of a contemporary folk song. Over the years I have come to discover that the more I struggle with a composition the worse it gets. My best work flows quickly and effortlessly, at least on those rare occasions when I get out of my own way. Thankfully, "Breathe on Me" was one such occasion. I improvised it one night at the piano in a few minutes, and it has since stirred my own heart as well as the worshiping community at Marble. I've never been one to say "God gave me the song and I wrote it down." If that were true for everyone who has said it, God has written some pretty crummy songs. But I can say that by grace God has used what I have written, imperfections and all, to be a beautiful vehicle of worship.
The author of the well-known text to "Breath On Me, Breath of God" is Edwin Hatch (1835-1889) and this Sunday is his 176th birthday - another Godincidence! Hatch was a clergyman in the church of England and an esteemed faculty member of Oxford University. During the last few years of his life he served as Rector of a church in Purleigh, England. It was only after his death that a collection of his hymns was published, entitled Towards Fields of Light. Highly regarded as a scholar and lecturer on the history of the early church, Hatch was also known to possess a faith "simple and unaffected as a child's."It is thishumble, direct, unencumbered faith that shines forth in his words that we will pray and sing together on Sunday:
Breathe on me, breath of God, til my heart all is pure,
Until with You I will one will, to do or to endure.
I've always been struck by that line: "To do or to endure." It reminds me of the Serenity Prayer - for the courage to change the things I can ("to do") and the serenity to accept the things I can't change ("to endure"). As the Spirit breathes on our lives, bringing our will into perfect harmony with God's, there are times we are called to bold action and new directions. Then there are times we are called to stop and be still, to surrender, and simply to breathe in His Spirit. Knowing when to do or when to endure requires wisdom and discernment.
When I wrote the music one thing I knew I wanted was some long notes that would require using our breath in order to hold them out. I have found that congregations do not like to sing long notes because they run the risk of hearing their own voice, or worse yet, that their neighbor will hear their voice. Or perhaps most non-singers simply don't breath deeply enough and so they run out of air. I encourage you to let go of any inhibitions about your voice, breathe down to your toes, and let the Spirit sing through you completely. Remember, the singer's energy source is breath, just in the same way the Christian's energy source is the Holy Spirit. For the singer it is breath that sets the vocal cords vibrating in sustained tone; for people of faith it is the Spirit that sets our lives vibrating with Christ's love.
Lessons from Irene
I rode out last Sunday's storm while on vacation in East Hampton. (I was not in a mandatory evacuation area.) Thanks to the nonstop TV forecasts of weather Armageddon I was pretty well panicked by the time Irene arrived. For Eastern Long Island it was all about the wind - which continued to rage hours after the hurricane had moved northward. On Sunday night I was starting to think she had turned around for a second swipe at us. Downed trees and power lines have meant no power for three days. My only complaint has been the endless drone of generators operated by neighbors on all sides. I self-righteously wonder if they shouldn't shut off their noisy machines for a while and get in touch with a Higher Power Source. They could also enjoy the silence which has an energy all its own.
That mild annoyance notwithstanding, I've been pondering some takeaways from the storm and their spiritual applications in my life:
1. I was Reminded who is in charge. God somewhat angrily questioned Job after his long tirade: "Did you proclaim the rules that determine the laws of nature? Can you command the clouds to envelop you in a deluge of rain?" I'm pretty sure I would have answered "No!" to those questions before the storm, but any lingering illusions of self-sovereignty have been shattered - at least for now.
2. I am Reopened to the wind of the Spirit. The disciples were cowering behind locked doors for fear of being arrested, and I was cowering in my basement having battened down the hatches against the storm. It's one thing to brace one's self against natural disasters, but may I never be so guarded against the moving of the Spirit in my life. Could the Spirit disrupt the order I've worked so hard to preserve or blow me off the course I've established for my life? Absolutely, and with God's help may my answer be, "Bring it on, Lord!" I will strive not to board up the windows of my heart and to be more open to the Spirit.
3. I was Relieved of some dead wood in my life. Irene gave my trees quite a pruning - free of charge. But as I've been raking up all the branches this week I'm noticing that most of them are leafless. Is there dead wood in my life that needs to be cut off by a good gust of the Holy Spirit, allowing other areas of my life to flourish more vibrantly, allowing growth to occur in new directions? Pruning is very difficult to perform on one's self - but the Spirit can help me out on that one too.
4. I was Restored in friendship with the neighbors. Amazing how going without power for only three days can interrupt one's fantasy of self-sufficiency. My neighbors Dave and Mary graciously invited me over to the most exquisite - dare I say, holy - meal shared together by flickering candlelight. It was the sacred renewing of a friendship that had waned, and their 6-month-old Irish Setter Pierce has become my new bosom buddy.
5. I was Reawakened to things I take for granted. First, my appreciation for water has skyrocketed. By carefully rationing my water usage it has been eye opening to realize how much water I normally waste on a daily basis just because I can. Secondly, hours of yard cleanup (with the aching muscles to prove it) have given me a deep appreciation for those who do manual labor for a living, working hard day after day for wages far less than mine in order that my life and yours may be more comfortable. Lastly, as I listen to the dull roar of my neighbor's leaf blower - which I am convinced contains one of the "retired" space shuttle engines - I have become thankful for my trusty wooden rake that has been mended many times with string. As I raked the debris from the yard I luxuriated in the smell of fresh grass, blossoms and wet dirt, and my senses were reawakened to the incredible beauty of this earth.
There are many people who have suffered great loss from the hurricane, and our prayers are with them as they begin the painful task of rebuilding their lives. By grace I merely suffered a sobering dose of fear followed by some mild inconvenience. As a lovely parting gift, Irene reminded me of many ways in which I'm truly blessed. She also reminded me to be open to the Wind Who makes all winds that blow - for that is the very Breath of God.