Ruach 

Ruach (pronounced roo’- ach as in kangaroo and auchtung) is a Hebrew word, personally my favorite, and it has multiple meanings. Those meanings can include (but are not limited to) spirit, breath and wind and are used interchangeably in the creation story.

 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit (ruach) of God was hovering over the waters. “Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)

“And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath (ruach)of life in it—I give every green plant for food. And it was so.” Genesis 1:29-31 (NIV)

“the LORD God formed the human (Adam in Hebrew) from the dust of the ground adamah in the Hebrew) and breathed (ruach) into his nostrils the breath (ruach) of life (zoë, incidently), and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:6-8 (NIV)

Ruach is something that the people and congregation of St. Stephen’s can closely identify with. This breath of God, this Holy Spirit, causes us to be innovative, artistic, and creative. We experienced ruach when the breath of God infused our young actors during the Easter Vigil, we experienced it when we breathed in the awe of that night. We were infused with it when we reaffirmed our baptismal vows. Ruach is powerful.

This very spirit of God breathes life into your bodies both corporately and individually. That wind of God blows to the very core of our being, challenges us, wakes us up, gives life to those who have been touched by it. You have indeed experienced the presence and power of Ruach—the spirit, breath and wind of God.

We are called—or have been breathed into so that we can share that new life with those around us in our life and ministries as bearers of the life and light, and ruach of Christ. We intimately know that we “live and move and have our being” in God, and that the breath of God is all in all.

 It is this breath that animates us so that we may go into the world rejoicing in the power of the Ruach.

Ruach is the stuff of life. Revel in it.