Please read Genesis 2, focusing on the creation of human beings.

Imagine yourself standing on dusty, barren land. A mist begins rising from the earth, moistening the ground. Can you get a sense of that earthy smell? Now, right in front of you, the moistened dust miraculously begins to be molded into a form; you know it is God at work. A head, torso, and arms and legs take shape, and then skin appears on the surface of the dust—but it’s pale, unalive skin. Suddenly, you hear an intake of divine breath, and then, right over the body of the new man, an exhale into the man’s nostrils. Watch as color comes into the man’s face, runs down his neck, spreads across his chest and down into his arms, floods down his torso into his legs, and finally down through the tips of his toes. Watch as he opens his eyes and sees God.

This divine breath is neshamah, a word strictly used to denote the life-giving breath that God personally imparts only into humans, elevating them to a conscious, living being, set apart from the animals. Stop for a moment here, and take a few deep breaths, now with awareness that “it is the breath of God that you breathe.”

Now hear God say, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Realize that, somehow, as a created being, even full access to God did not assuage the man’s need for a companion who was like him. We are created for communion and community with each other, but we know that, on this side of the Garden, community can wound us. Pray and ask if God is inviting you to take steps to receive healing for past wounds.

While the man is in an induced deep sleep, watch as God takes from his side the material he needs to form an ezer kenegdo. An ezer is a strong help and is a word God later uses of himself—sixteen times—when God helps Israel; a kenegdo is an equal partner, standing side by side to support, or, when needed, face to face to challenge. God surely animates her with neshamah as well.

Here they are, in the Garden Holy of Holies in the middle of the temple of creation, called together to serve in it, as kings and priests. In Christ, we, too, are made a kingdom and priests on this side of the Garden, reflecting God’s love and purpose into the world. Let’s do so together.

-Lori Duncan