Breathe!

Have you ever wondered how mouth-to mouth resuscitation works? Once we breathe in and use up the oxygen for our own use, what’s left for someone else? The reality is that oxygen comprises only 20% of the “air” we breathe.  Of that 20%, we use 20% of that for our own use with each breathe. When we exhale, that air still contains 16% (ish) oxygen for the person requiring CPR!  Nifty, huh?  Breathing not only sustains life, it helps us regulate our emotions, keeps our brains functioning, and specialized breathing can calm anxiety.  

As an experiment, take in a deep breath and hold it.  I’ll wait.  Without exhaling, try taking in MORE air.  You might get a bit more in, but without letting the current air out, you can’t take in anymore.  Breathing requires both inhalations and exhalations or it won’t last long.  

As Christians, we know we depend on God for all our needs, not only physical needs, but love, forgiveness, relationships for a full life.  Try as we will, however, we can only take in so much before what we’ve inhaled must go somewhere. We cannot breathe in God, only for ourselves.  If we keep ourselves in a strictly contained container, even breathing in and out, we will eventually run out of oxygen and, well, die.  

When we focus only on what God gives us, what we think we’ve earned/deserved/are entitled to, it’s like trying to only breathe in.  It doesn’t work.  Jesus told us all the laws and commandments are summed up into 2 themes, “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind (breathe in) AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (Breathe out). When we share the essential love of/for/from God, we complete the life-giving cycle of breathing.

As the hymn records, “Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew. That I may love the way you love and do what you would do.” 

Let us always remember, at Christ United, “we want all people to experience the unconditional love of Jesus Christ!” We are not here just for ourselves. 

As such CU is collecting items for the weekly St Paul Lutheran Church in E. Lansing Food Bank. Even as the need has grown, supplies from the Greater Lansing Food Bank have shrunk.  We the people of Christ are to be food for the world. Current needs are personal care supplies (deodorant, shampoo, soap, etc.) and non-food items like laundry detergent, toilet paper, tissues, etc. as SNAP benefits cannot be used for any of those items. Please consider a run through your closets or keep an eye when shopping for our neighbors’ needs.  Nonperishable food items (within expiration date) are also appreciated.

Also reaching outwards, we have a list for Cardboard Prophets (serving the homeless) including new and CLEAN/gently used blankets, sleeping bags, tents, ready to eat food, small size toiletries, gloves, socks, etc. A list is on the table where we place the bulletins. If you need a list sent out, please contact the Church.