The Girl with the Spirit Tattoo
I got my first tattoo when I was 40.
I had not been opposed before that but I never thought I would ever like anything enough to want it to live on my body forever.
That changed.
I was watching a video on the Holy Spirit by the Bible Projectwhere they explained that the Hebrew word for Spirit in Genesis 1, is ruach (ROO-ahkh). Ruach, means breath, wind or spirit. It says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God (Ruach) was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2 ESV
Then, Jesus comes into the picture. When Jesus is getting baptized, Luke tells us in his gospel(chapter 3 vs 22) that the Ruach HaKodesh, descended in bodily form as a dove (HaKodesh means Holy). Spirit and water again... sound familiar?
You also see a conversation between Jesus and his students (called disciples) where he explains that when he dies, someone greater than him will come to be their helper and counselor. Guess who that is? Yup, the Ruach HaKodesh.
Why am I telling you this?
Before this video, in my mind the Holy Spirit has always seemed so stingy. The picture had been painted to me that if I was a good girl and made good choices, then the Holy Spirit would give me the time of day. But if I made a mistake, the Spirit would leave me and wait until I was good again.
But what the text shows me is more than that.
First of all, the writers of Genesis wants us to see that before there was a purpose for the earth, there was a holy wind that hovered over the chaos. What was the purpose? How long had it been there? Why is that held within the first paragraph of the whole Bible? I believe it’s important. I believe we should pay attention.
I believe that it’s showing us that God’s spirit is always close. Always in proximity to our chaos.
We don’t have to be perfect or have it all together for him to be close.
Secondly, and this is what is most profound to me: the same spirit that was hovering over the earth before it had a form and purpose, is the same spirit who enabled Christ to rise again. I believe this same spirit is the very life giving force that we breathe, that rustles through the tree branches on a breezy spring day. It is the very same comfort I seek when I stop, take a deep breath, and continue on with my day.
He is everywhere, he is still interested in bringing life. Not to just the good. Not to just the Christians. But all living things, even our very planet.
So I got the tattoo on my forearm. I put it somewhere that I can look and be reminded to take a breath. To know that He is always close.
To be reminded that the very air I breathe, is the same life giving force that was here from the beginning. It is the same holy rushing wind that came over the disciples in the upper room, enabling them to preach the good news to thousands (see Acts 2).
It is the same Spirit who hovers over the chaos of my life.
My hope for you today is that no matter what you’re dealing with, no matter what chaos surrounds you, even in the good, you stop. רוּחַ
Take a breath. רוּחַ
And know the Spirit of our Divine Creator is ever present. Always bringing life. Always ready to bring order from the chaos.
