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The Valley Of Dry Bones I need a breath of life by Lindsay Dyer Ezekiel 37:1-14 I barely hear the whisper as I rise from the ashes of my life around me. "Lindsay." He was saying more than just my name. With a single utterance, He made light. Not the name, but the essence of light. Light will uncover darkness. Light will nourish, grow, unravel, heal. And with my name, He created an essence — a creature to delight Him. And I am undone at the thought. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and the Spirit brought me to a desert, a valley. The emptiness, the heat, bore upon me. Dust settles. Bones. Before me are bones littered in sand and barren of life. "Lindsay, can these bones live?" In my hollow, shallow mind, I begin to consider how I might bring them to life. Where I can find the magic words to say and how long I have to plan out every step to make it work. To make Him proud of me. To make me feel like I'm enough. "Can these bones live? My Lord, I am overwhelmed ..." "Tell them this: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will come to life." Silence, for I can scarce take it in. "Then, Lindsay, you will know that I am Lord." I begin to merely mouth the words, unaware of how to use my own voice. The dust swirls away and the bones become clean. They rattle and shake, taking form and connecting with tendons and bits of flesh. Skin — the fairest I have seen — covers to protect those bones. Still, what stood before me was barely recognizable and completely breathless. "Now, tell the four winds to come and breathe into this slain that they may live." I whispered. Suddenly, breath filled the form and a woman took life. As she stood to her feet, I saw the truly amazing. Peaceful. Complete. I was looking at myself. The essence that came with the saying of my name. "Lindsay, I will bring you back. I alone have the power to hold together and breathe life. It's time to remember the joy. Linds, I haven't held back anything from you. Can't you feel my love for you? Don't you see it in the cross of my Son? Is that enough for you? Am I enough for you?"