Beloved
Written by Elizabeth Boxell
Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. — Genesis 2:7
My grandfather, the late Walter M. Wangerin, Sr., had a saying. He would remind me to “stop and let my soul catch up to my body”. Never do I feel the need for that more than right now. In the weeks leading to Christmas I find myself lost in worry. Will my children understand that Christmas is about God’s love and not gifts?
When those thoughts start to consume me, I take a deep breath and find the peace that comes with my soul and body reuniting. This breath contains God’s spirit, reminding me of God’s love and mercy.
It is this intersection of the physical and the conscious that I imagine Adam experiencing in the moment after God breathed life into him. His lungs are filled with God’s Spirit, his senses are awakened to the cold earth beneath him, and he becomes, as the scripture states, a living being: the first beloved child of God.
This coming together happens again when God comes to earth in the body of the most vulnerable - the tiny babe in a manger, Jesus. The One sent to bring peace to the world.
So, as you go about this Advent season, lost in all that needs to get done, I ask you to heed the advice of my Papa and take a moment to let your soul and body reunite, finding strength in God’s Spirit dwelling in your heart, and finding peace in the knowledge that you, too, are a beloved child of God.
Creator God, thank you for your spirit filled breath that sustains our bodies and brings us peace. Help us to find moments this Advent season to stop and let our souls catch up with our bodies so we can be fully present when we welcome your Son into this world. Amen.
