Friends from the North came to visit us. A visit, like the Englishman says, long overdue. Because of Covid and other challenges, we haven’t seen each other for years, and we were so excited to spend a weekend together.

And we really enjoyed the weekend. The four of us spent the whole Saturday driving around to show off our beautiful area. We stopped for a cheese platter in Franschhoek and tasted great wines, ending the day with an excellent barbeque.

After a good breakfast, they started the journey back. Later that day, we heard they’d been ill for a few days.

Sunday evening Renata started coughing. When I opened my eyes Monday morning, I felt under the weather. I immediately went for a test because that evening I had a dinner date with a couple I had to marry Saturday. I already had to marry another couple on Tuesday.

The result was positive. Another visit by Covid.

It actually wasn’t that bad, just a good flu with all the necessary symptoms in excess. I got everything under control except my breathing. Weeks later, I still woke up in the night gasping for breath.

I don’t know if I stopped breathing or whether I inhaled too little oxygen through my one open nostril, but this really scared me. It terrified me so much that I instead got up and worked, like now, at 01:40 in the morning.

I’m scared of dying. I realise how important it is to breathe. If you don’t breathe, you die. And if you experience this physically, you get scared and no longer trust your respiratory system.

The body needs breath. Breathing is vital for the body to work effectively. This is a simple calculation, and we all know it. So, when something goes wrong, fear comes knocking at the door.

James uses this example to explain how faith works. I know he said it a few times already, but it’s as if he now throws down the final card to ensure everyone understands exactly what it’s all about.

²⁶The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.

A simple calculation. Like a lifeless body that’s not breathing, faith without actions is dead.

May this not be true of your faith. Instead, may your faith be alive and well because it’s filled with actions. May people see your faith through your works, and may you make a difference everywhere you go because you believe.

Scripture
James 2:14-26

Reflection
Are you alive?
Is your faith alive?
Are your actions alive?

Prayer
Father, I am indeed alive. I have faith, and my faith is alive too. Sometimes, I don’t do enough, but I try to make a difference every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.