As health care providers, we all know the benefits of breathing deeply. We know the physiology of how that works. A few good deep breaths help our lungs profuse a little extra oxygen from our lungs into the blood, our blood carries that oxygen to the organs in our bodies, including our brains. That extra oxygen to our brain helps us think more clearly and feel calm. End of story…….or is it?
Listening to our opening song may change your mind if you think that is the end of the story:
Is there a spiritual element to the breath?
Well, if you were to ask Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh about that, he would probably say yes. He wrote a book on the topic entitled, Peace is in Every Breath and I love this quote from it:
Our breathing is a stable solid ground that we can take refuge in. No matter what is going on inside us – thoughts, emotions, or perceptions – our breathing is always with us, like a faithful friend. Whenever we are carried away by our thinking, when we are overwhelmed by strong emotions, or when our minds are restless and dispersed, we can return to our breathing.
Our breathing is clinically solid ground. The part of the brain that tells us to breathe is the medulla, and breathing is something we do not have to think about. It is involuntary, automatic, and continuous.
In stressful situations the breath can become shallow, but we will not actually stop breathing, thanks to the continuous work or our brains.
If we focus our attention to the breath and breathe deeply, this can be a powerful and calming spiritual practice.
Good old Job from the Hebrew scriptures found the Holy of Holies in the breath:
But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. – Job 32:8
The breath in Christianity is sometimes associated with the Holy Spirit. Theologian Charles Fillmore wrote in his book, The Revealing Word, that: "The Holy Spirit is the love of Jehovah taking care of the human family. The activity of God in a Universal sense. The moving force in the Universe taken as a whole. The Spirit is the infinite “breath” of God, the life essence of Being.” This statement of his was inspired by scripture:
"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” - John 20:22
Given all that, is it any wonder that when we find ourselves in a stressful situation, often people will often advise us to BREATHE.
There is plenty to stress about this fall, we simply do not know how things will play out. Will masking, hand washing, flu shots, and physical distancing be enough to keep our hospitals from being overrun in a time of year that in the best of circumstances is usually hectic anyway? Is this the calm before the storm?
Breathe, friends, breathe.
As you know, when we work this winter, much of that work will be focused on helping people do just that. Breathe. With all sorts of interventions - medication, supplemental oxygen, positioning, bipap, intubation, and teaching breathing exercises: turn, cough, and deep breath at least every two hours, right?
Given what we have learned about the breath today, we know this is high holy work.
Ours is a vocation - to care for others - as stressful as it is sometimes.
So, this fall and winter as we help people with their holy work of breathing – let us not forget to take a few high and holy deep breaths from time to time for ourselves.
We deserve no less.
I am profoundly grateful for your work.
I thank you for reading and be blessed this day!
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