Spirit... and Life

"I pray for the desire to continue praying and meditating regularly.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, empathy, gentleness and humility.  I ask to abstain from anxiety, anger, shame, compulsive behaviour, and discouragement.  I ask to know Jesus more intimately, love him more deeply and to follow him more closely.  I ask to experience myself and others as made in the image and likeness of God."

John 6:63-66
⁶³It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. ⁶⁵And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’

66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.

1)"the spirit... gives life;" "...spirit and life;" "

2) If i seek to follow Jesus, it is because it has been "granted by the father."  I sense deep sadness as I imagine the last verse, 'Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him."  I do feel like the spirit has been with me these last weeks.  I do feel that life has been good.  Circumstances have not changed.  But I don't feel weighed down by them.  I feel like I move with hope, joy and optemism.  I don't believe it is just because things are "going well."  I've been praying and meditating daily for almost 80 consecutive days and I feel the difference.  I feel spirit and life.  There has been conflict.  But the conflict is not robbing me of life as it can.  I am very much drawn to the words, "...spirit and life."  I want to sit with them.  As I breathe the words, I feel myself become more grounded, and still.

3) What is the invitation in all this?  to sit with the words, "spirit... and life."  To obsserve and celebrate/honour how they are present in my life.  It is a day to sit with gratitude.

"Holy One, thank you.  Thank you for all the spirit and life."

Breathprayer: "Spirit... and life."