Taking in the Breath of Life: Surviving vs Thriving

TAKING IN THE BREATH OF LIFE SURVIVING VS THRIVING BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

INTRODUCTION "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul,� (Genesis 2: 7). Breathing is fundamental to life. We inhale and exhale several times per minute (12 to 25 breaths per min. for adult) without giving it any thought because it happens automatically for us. The body is so complex and wondrous, with the tiniest of cells at work, knowing exactly what to do and when to do it at this very moment to keep us alive.

We take breathing for granted until something happens, such as an illness or worst, a near death experience.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

OUR FIRST BREATH Each of us took our first breath when we came out of our mother’s womb. Your first cry, though you don’t remember, served as a critical first step to your life.

When a baby is born, the first cry typically happens within the first 10 seconds. The newborn’s central nervous system reacts to the change in temperature and environment. This cry helps remove fluid from the lungs. The lungs inflate and begin working on their own and hence, another living soul taking in the breath of life. Life begins.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Life can only continue if the lungs and the entire respiratory system are functioning properly. So how exactly does it work? A little anatomy and physiology is warranted. Yikes!

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM The respiratory system includes the nose, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi and lungs.

• Nose - preferred method to breathe in oxygen from the outside air. Hairs lining the nose trap dust or any unwanted substances from entering the lungs.

• Throat - collects air from nose and mouth and then passes it to the windpipe or trachea.

• Voice Box - located in front of the neck

between the throat and windpipe. Protects the lower airway by closing abruptly to prevent any foreign matter from entering the lungs during eating for example.

• Trachea (windpipe)- is the passage leading from your throat to your lungs.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM • Bronchial tubes- The windpipe further divides into 2 pipes, one for each lung.

• Lung -are a pair of spongy, airfilled organs located on either side of the chest (thorax).

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM In simple terms, the respiratory system allows us to breathe, taking in oxygen from the outside air (inhalation) and getting rid of carbon dioxide through exhalation.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM How does it work? When we take a breath, air travels through the airways down into the lungs, filling millions of little air sacs called alveoli. Then tiny blood vessels (capillaries) lining the alveoli take in the oxygen so that it travels into our blood stream. This oxygen rich blood then flows to our heart. The heart pumps the blood throughout our entire body via the arteries. The cells in our body take the oxygen and give up the carbon dioxide.

Blood filled with carbon dioxide travels to the heart, which then takes it to the lungs to be expelled when we exhale.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Why is this process so important? The cells in our body need oxygen to function and perform the processes needed for us to live.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: NOT JUST BREATHING The function of the respiratory system does not stop at breathing. It helps with providing us with energy.

Energy is the strength and ability to be active and to work physically and mentally.

Everything you do requires energy. I mean everything, from eating, getting up and going to the bathroom, dressing or reading your bible. You get the picture.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: NOT JUST BREATHING The cells in your body take the oxygen transported via our blood and uses it to break down sugars from the food you have eaten. Breaking down sugar helps produce the energy you need. So you can see, the respiratory system is so critical for the basis of all human life.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

SPIRITUAL SIGNIFIGANCE So what point am I making? Are we in A & P (anatomy and physiology) class or what? No, of course not. On Sabbath, my sister shared with me her experience over the past couple weeks. She became too sick to work or do some of the hobbies she enjoys, experiencing extensive fatigue and shortness of breath (SOB). This obviously was uncomfortable and an inconvenience to her. However, she expressed that through this illness, she was able to focus more on the Lord as other activities and roles in her life were forced to take a back seat.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

THE BREATH OF LIFE Immediately I started to think about what shortness of breath means spiritually. We know that the Holy Spirit is the breath of life that makes us a living soul. He is the almighty power of God that enters within us and enables our bodies to function the way that they do on a day to day basis because the Father willed it.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

IMPAIRED BREATHING Physically, when our breathing is compromised, it prevents us from functioning at optimal levels and instantly decreases our quality of life. As an occupational therapist, I have worked with many patient’s with pulmonary disorders, such as COPD. We have to train them to complete their daily self care tasks in an alternative way or with use of equipment because they get so fatigued and winded.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

PULMONARY DISORDERS LEAD TO EMOTIONAL/MENTAL DISORDERS Often times, these patients have anxiety or depression. They get very frustrated at doing tasks that you and I take for granted, such as dressing or bathing.

They often have to give up hobbies they love or depend on family members or friends to complete more complex or involved tasks needed to live. Sometimes they are unable to live at home safely and must be admitted to a facility, such Assisted Living or a Nursing Home, where care can be provided to them. They are surviving but they are not thriving.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

SPIRITUALLY WINDED So what of the person who spiritually is winded or SOB? This is a person that is not fully taking in the Holy Spirit as they should because of idols that they may have in their life, temptations, trials or general day to day distractions. Recall that when you take in air from the outside, it goes through the airways (i.e. nose, mouth, throat, etc) to access the inside of your body. An airway is a passageway.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

PASSAGEWAYS Spiritually we have passageways through which God enters to access the inner person to help us gain salvation. These passageways start with our eyes and ears and then to our hearts and minds. Consider when you read the words of the bible. You see the scriptures with your eyes. The Holy Spirit comes to you to give you understanding in your mind and by understanding you learn to apply the words to your life. You hear a song of God or that still small voice, both of which touch your heart and convince you to be righteous.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

PASSAGEWAYS But when we are consumed with the things of this world, when we are holding on to idols, whether they be in the form of a person, hobby or our job, it partially or completely obstructs the passageways by which the Holy Spirit enters.

You begin to hear Him less and less and you hear Satan more and more. This is exactly what the devil wants.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

FALLING SHORT IN THE TRUTH Day by day, you become weaker and ineffective in the word of God. When we are ineffective or falling short with serving God, this can be compared to a person whose lungs are not functioning properly and thus, oxygenated blood may have difficulty reaching vital tissues and organs, leading to all kinds of health problems.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

SPIRITUAL SICKNESS Now there are saints of God who are spiritually sick. They may know portions of the truth but may be clouded by ideologies of other religious doctrines or perhaps they have distractions or other idols that are preventing them from fully coming to God. We all have loved ones in these spiritual conditions.

They are not able to hear or see the truth for what it really is because their passageways are partially blocked and therefore, they cannot fully take in the Holy Ghost.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

SURVIVE VS THRIVE But it is not just others. Even we have moments or periods in our lives when we are not receiving the Holy Spirit as we should. It could be as simple as listening to an unclean song or watching something inappropriate on TV. When you flood your passageways with unclean things, the Holy Spirit cannot enter. We cannot serve God and mammon. Not only that, when you consume your life with all things common, failing to make time for the holy, you will not receive the Holy Spirit as you should. You might be surviving spiritually but not thriving.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US SPIRITUAL ENERGY Earlier, we discussed how oxygen assists the cells with producing energy and energy as we know, is critical in putting our bodies and minds to work on a daily basis. The Holy Spirit gives us the vitality, strength and ability to obey the Lord. When we commune with Him, He brings to remembrance the laws of God, the teachings of Jesus and our hope; thus, compelling us to work hard and to strive. This is our spiritual energy that keeps us going.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

HOLY SPIRIT EXPELS SIN Physically when we breathe in air there may be dust or other unwanted substances included. However, the airways of the respiratory system have multiple defense mechanisms. The nose for example, is an excellent filter, trapping particles in tiny hairs, which then gets expelled by a sneeze.

If the particles get pass the nose, mucus lining the airways that follow will trap much of the unwanted substances. Think of the dust as sin. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God as an effective defense mechanism to expel it from your heart and your mind.

BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL

SURVIVE VS THRIVE Brothers and sisters, we live in a day where our eyes and ears are thankfully open, giving the Spirit passageways to enter. We must fully inhale the breath of life, that great Holy Spirit, not only to function physically, but to live to the fullest spiritually. So stop. Take a moment to take in a deep breath, not only to survive but to thrive in truth through the Spirit of God. By doing so, we may have the honor of being a part of that first fruit group, the 144,00. Let us all continue to study and prepare for the Feast of Pentecost. Amen.