Breathing YHWH

Have you ever been at a loss for words? I have had people extend such kindness to me that I do not know quite how to respond. I do not have a vocabulary extensive enough to verbally convert the thoughts in my head to a valuable and meaningful vocal expression of gratitude. I have scene sights and felt feelings (profound, huh?) that have taken my breath away. In El Paso, Texas after a hike that took my breath away, I looked around from the peak of a mountain to see the landscape created by God only to have more breath completely escape me. Looking up from the New River Gorge and seeing rocks and cliffs adored with greens, browns, and oranges that extend to take over the sky left me without air. Oxygen evades me more during the thrill and rush of rafting the whitewater of the Upper Gauley River than it does with a face full of water crashing against me.

Yahweh was the name for God that could not be spoken. If one wished to refer to God, the names Elohim and Adonai (among others) were sufficient. Yahweh, however, could not be spoken due to the level of respect and adoration granted to God. Perhaps, the mere thought of the grandeur and sovereignty of God takes ones breath away.

Involuntarily, our bodies breathe. Air in. Air out. The only sound that could be associated with the name Yahweh was the human breath. A breath, that which gives us life, is the only possible utterance for the name of God. Though unspeakable, with every breath one breathes, he/she does speak the name Yahweh every moment of every day unless of course, he takes your breath away. But then you are not alive. So to be fully alive is to live in the fullness of the image of Yahweh with every breath.