Breathe

 Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

⁷ Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Why does God give life to Adam this way? Why not just say, "Let there be life" or something like that? 

I don't think I have an answer to that. But I think there is something to be learned from God's method. Look no farther than your local yoga studio. It turns out the non-Christian religions have left us on the dock on breathing. Whether you're in a downward dog or just following what your mindfulness app tells you to do, the idea that just breathing in an intentional way to calm nerves is common to just about everyone...except Christians.

Of course, when the Church stands out from the culture, that's usually a really good thing, but I wonder if it isn't in this case. If you are a living being because you have breath breathed into you by God, could breathing help you be...more...human? Could God have intended it that way and it took an army of yogis to remind us?

Maybe you're not ready to agree with me. I don't even necessarily think the Scripture agrees with me explicitly. But at this time when stress is high and fresh air seems like a foggy memory, maybe we could do ourselves some good and breathe.