theo-pneus-tos

One of the very few fears I have in life—particularly as a pastor—is the loss of inspiration, the motivation for self-expression, the urge to create. Even worse—to no longer be able to find sources of inspiration, to begin to intellectually, emotionally, and creatively flatline. One look out the window into the reality of 2020, a year of pestilence, political upheaval, natural disasters, racial tension, loss of livelihood, closed schools, empty ballparks, mask-shaming, and it’s easy to understand the metastasizing grief and fear that can hijack our senses and our inspiration (not to mention our faith).

The Ancient Greeks believed they were inspired by the Muses (from where we get the verb to muse, as well as the noun music), nine goddesses on whose mercy the creativity, wisdom, and insight of all artists and thinkers depended. I read that poets like Homer, Virgil, and Ovid were thought to have no talent of their own. They received their inspiration—from the Greek inspirare, meaning to breathe into—from the only beings who held the power to create anything: the gods. I would agree whole-heartedly, though only after changing “the gods” to “God.”

The word inspiration is rooted in the Latin spirare (“to breathe”) and is directly related to spirit, from Latin spiritus (“breath”). But there is another curious word, right out of Scripture that translates, quite literally, to “given by inspiration of God”—a word so unique that it appears only once in the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:16): theopneustos.

It’s very possible that Paul may have actually invented this word (inspired by the Spirit), which breaks down into three parts: theos (the Greek word for “God”), pneus from pneo, the Greek verb meaning “breathe” or “blow” and also the root word for pneuma, the Greek word for “wind” and “spirit”), and tos (a suffix that describes something done by God). It’s very easy to see the connection between inspiration and faith, even in everyday life. Even in 2020.

I very often draw inspiration from others—people I know, historical figures, and certainly from the Bible. I find muses in the unlikely, but hardly accidental, heroes of Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Jonah, Paul, etc., as well as other real-life heroes, such as Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and another who popped up on my radar a few days ago, a man whose courage and faith under trying, life-threating circumstances should serve as an inspiration for Christians the world over. This man is the subject of a 1959 film entitled Molokai, La Isla Maldita (“Molokai, the Damned Island”).

Belgian priest Jozef De Veuster, Father Damien, was ordained in 1864 at the age of 23. His first assignment was to the island of Hawaii. At that time, the Hawaiian government decided to stop the spread of leprosy by deporting those thought to be infected to the island of Molokai. Father Damien volunteered to be the first priest to visit the colony and seeing the living hell among those banished to it, he stayed for 16 years, bandaging patients, washing them, and digging their graves (he also built houses, churches, orphanages, coffins, and a system for clean water). In 1889 he died...of leprosy.

Without suffering there would be no need for faith. This year, so far, has brought suffering, to be sure; however, the same faith that helps us endure suffering can also serve as a conduit for inspiration and courage. We can choose to succumb to the grief and fear or respond in faith, to keep that inspiration alive, intellectually, emotionally, and creatively—secure in what Paul writes in Philippians 4:3, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

My faith keeps my fears at bay, and any inspiration a theopneustos (that is, something God-breathed). My Muse is the Holy Spirit, through whom I can see God’s hand in my life and in the world around me. In fact, I feel inspired right now. Time to get busy...

...there’s much to do! :)

Until next month…

Peace be with you all,

Pastor E.B.