Breath of Life

Imagine for a moment that's scene from 101 Dalmatians where the puppy is still born. The little puppy comes out and is not completely alive. The whole movement of the movie slows to focus on the importance of that one life; the audience, as well as the characters in the movie hold their breath exercising their will in a concerted effort to bring this puppy back to life. There is an intensity because the puppy was born dead and then thankfully, with the breath of life, stirs and begins living. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yswtJZbTLpg)

This intense albeit short scene, roughly one minute in the whole movie, shows the power and brevity of life. The baby puppy gets ruffled around before being revived. It is much like our lives from the perspective of eternity. Our lives are these periods of 70-80 years; however from the perspective of eternity it is just a brief minute at the beginning. Our existences are a simple blink of the eye. What we consider “a life” is a series of critical moments, such as during birth, and it is in this moment that we are called to thrive.

Now imagine if, rather than being fully alive, our existences on this planet or in this universe are in-between space, neither fully alive nor fully dead. What we call “a life” is an existence where God is trying to bring us to true living. Part of that is us choosing to live as well as choosing to be with God. This choice dictates how we exist in the now and the future. God, like the father in the movie, is trying to bring us into life, though he also understands simultaneously that his efforts may not succeed.

It is upon this experience that the “Great Commission” is built. Christians are called to be witnesses to the world. They are called to share the good news and bring others to an eternity of living. Maybe, just maybe, another person they care about will open their eyes, take a deep breath, and begin truly living.

101 Dalmatians, directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, featuring (Rod Taylor, J. Pat O'Malley,Betty Lou Gerson)(Walt Disney, 1961), Animation (Walt Disney Productions,1961).