“But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.” Job 32:8

I have to admit, as I sit here writing my Lenten devotion, that I am immensely uninspired. It’s February. It’s very cold outside and I’m tired of it. I have a space heater in my office which helps, but it’s also lulling me into a trance-like state. People can write beautiful music and thought-provoking books and imagine and plan majestic buildings. I just need a 400-word devotional! Inspire me, God!

When I pray for inspiration, I’m asking God to give me a creative spark that mentally stimulates and motivates me. But the word, “inspiration”, also has another meaning, “the drawing of breath.” We breathe constantly, but we spend minimal time thinking about it, unless we have a cold or a medical condition that impacts our breathing – in which case, it’s virtually all we can think about. God’s power – that “inspiration” that created life - is far      beyond our imaginations and yet, even on our dullest days, we are infused with that same creating, thinking, rationalizing, feeling, hungry, dynamic power that longs to “do something.” The “something” part is where we tend to get hung up. I was lamenting this with  Tammy, Bethel’s administrative assistant, who has great ideas and has helped tweak quite a few of mine before they’ve been rolled out. She said, “Maybe you should write about being uninspired. People can relate to that.” So, here I am.

While some days we may feel like we are spinning our wheels, each new day holds opportunity - the opportunity to dream, to laugh, to make a connection, to irrationally grab hope in the midst of despair, the opportunity to do something, even if it’s something small. Maybe just having the amazing opportunity to reimagine our days and moments should be enough for us to work with.

Today, wherever you are, may you remember that God “inspired” you with the breath of life, so that you might use your body and your life, up until your very last breath, to do something that matters, to hug a friend, to make music that makes people dance or cry, to cook food that fills bellies, to teach someone to read, to believe in inspiration even when you don’t feel it at the moment. That spark lives within each one of us. This is what it means to be a child of God.

Prayer: Holy Lord, Fill us with Your Spirit and Your call to use our lives, our thoughts, and our ideas to benefit the world You have placed us in. May our inspiration be holy inspiration that comes from You and lifts up all of creation. Amen.