I see, here in the second winter of the world’s war
over breath, (a scarce resource; needful to life), fighting a determined
pestilence the century presents us with the theme and crisis of breathing. Who
breathes? And who does not? George Floyd can’t breathe because the police are
pressing on his neck. (Breathing as racial privilege). His words become a
manifesto for the signs of the times. Care homes become breathless as disease
is carried from place to place, aged to aged. Miner’s lungs blacken. (Breathing
as victim of government neglect). The earth chokes on carbon while its green
lungs, the forests, burn. (Breathing as spoil of consumption and greed.)
Bata, who had barely survived cancer, spoke of
approaching death: “Every breath is precious.” Our breaths are limited in
number. What flows through the channels of the breath? Air; anything else is
poison. What floats upon the breath? Alcohol, infection, conspiracy theories,
lies? Blessing, compassion, acceptance,
love? Good news, or frightful influences?
When the spirit of God moved upon the face of the
waters, was this the first breath of wind giving life to everything, even rocks
and trees? The world’s health. Save your breath.
