The title for this blog was chosen by our communications team as a summary of my philosophy about spiritual transformation. It was disturbing to me initially that my deep thoughts on spiritual life could be so easily summarized in two words. While INHALE/EXHALE doesn’t say all that needs to be said about transformation, it does communicate a simple rhythm of life that leads to growth.
In addition to a weekly worship experience with other followers of Jesus, we each need to find one regular opportunity to “inhale” and one to “exhale”.
- INHALE: Find a group where you can learn, grow, and receive. Sunday morning worship alone is insufficient for the spiritual marathon. Find a place where you can breathe in the love, grace, community, power, and word of God.
- EXHALE: Find one place to give, serve, and share. Find a place where you can exhale the love, grace, community, power, and word of God into the church and world. God has called you to ministry (serving inside the church) and mission (serving beyond the church walls).
It is not healthy to inhale only (though I have known many “inhale-only” Christians). It is not healthy to exhale only (though I have known many “exhale-only” Christians). Healthy runners realize the necessity of honoring the inhale/exhale rhythm that was built in them by their creator.
My strong pastoral recommendation: Make Sunday morning worship your priority (that’s the heartbeat). Find one place to inhale (grow). Find one place to exhale (serve). Consider all other church programs optional.
Have extra time? Take an elective class to supplement your learning. Even better, spend time getting to know your neighbors or volunteering in the community. Still have more time? Write to me (or post on the blog) your INHALE/EXHALE story. I’d love to hear about your experience.
3 Comments
From an early age I have been a visitor, starting with visits to Aunt Florence who lived in a wheelchair. I learned in my 20′s that “visitors” are always welcomed and personally, I desperately needed to feel accepted. I learned in my 40′s that God chose me and accepted me. What a life-changer!
Today I do regular, monthly visitation to a few elderly members of WARD and with my Therapy Dog I do regular, weekly visits to patients at Botsford Hospital. My quandry is how to share Christ meaningfully in a public hospital while being part of the secular, Dr. Paws therapy program . This seems to be the “Exhale” part that God has given me. I don’t have time or interest to operate a second “mission”, so how can I fulfill the Great Commission where I am?
I would like to encourage Linda with this. She recognizes that God gave her a heart to be a ‘visitor’. Jesus was a visitor too. He met Zaccheus as his house. He met the woman at the well. Those are two incidents, am certain there are others. So you’re in good company
Another thought is fill yourself up with His Word. By doing so you hide His word in your heart, and I promise you God will bring you to your mind to share at just the right time. God’s word say to us to ‘be ready in season and out’ to share the hope of the Glory that lay within us.” I have had many an opportunity to share that love to others. At first it is a little unnerving. Like anything else the more you share the easier it is.
The feeling of rejection is there as well. What if were are rejected? It’s not a matter of IF, but when. We have to remember two important things. The first -Jesus was rejected. The second is we will be rejected too. So i say again: we are in good company. Jesus told his apostles they would be rejected and to ‘shake the dust of their feet’ and move on. Linda you will find plenty of opportunities to share the unconditional love of Jesus to others.
It seems to me that your visitation definately counts as an “exhale.” You are serving people that God cares about! Look for opportunites to give verbal witness to Christ, but it may be that your primary calling through Dr. Paws is to simply serve. Try to find ways to let people know that you are a Christian, and then show them the compassion and kindness of Jesus.