THE AIR YOU BREATHEThe year was 1875; the place, Paris, France. For more than two years, three scientists had worked toward this day, and now they were ready. Carefully, they climbed into the gondola of the balloon, "Zenith," while thousands around them watched. Determined to set a new altitude record, they wanted to go higher than man had ever risen above the earth. And they did just that,but at what a cost. Slowly the large balloon rose into the air, with its human cargo of three men in a basket-shaped gondola swinging just beneath it. All seemed well; they were well on their way toward the goal: to climb higher than any man had ever gone. Then at 24,430 feet it happened. Tissandier, one of the three, later described it: "Croce is gasping for breath, Sivel is dazed, but can still cut three sandbags loose in order to reach 26,240 feet." At that point, Tissandier himself was overcome and slumped to the floor, losing consciousness. Some time afterward, as the balloonfreed from the sandbags continued its ascenthe awoke. They had attained a height of 8,600 meters (approximately 28,000 feet)but two of the scientists lay dead in the gondola of the balloon. Yes, they had conquered the heights, but before it was done the heights had conquered them. There was not enough air, with its precious life-giving oxygen, to sustain life at that great altitude. Without air, man dies. Air is the most vital element for man and animals. One may live for weeks without food, or for days without water, but deprived of air he will perish within minutes. Millions of people suffer from a wide variety of ailments that are partly caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen. The problem is that most people do not breathe correctly, and this continually weakens their health, their happiness, and their hold on life itself. One of the finest statements written on the importance of air are these words penned by an outstanding health educator:
Every cell of your body must receive a constant supply of oxygenor they will weaken and die. But that air must be fresh in order to help you the most. When you breathe stale or polluted air, the supply of oxygen is insufficient to keep the cells strong and healthy. Apart from oxygen from the air you breathe, they die within a few minutes.
The life-giving air around us is a most precious blessing from Heaven. On the last day of Creation Week, God created man. Having formed him from the dust of the ground, Adam lay before his Maker inert and lifelessuntil he was vitalized by the breath of life. And moment by moment, you and I must have fresh air also.
It is of the highest consequence to your life, health, and happiness, that you keep fresh air in every room in your home, and especially in your sleeping rooms. If you are not able to have your windows open in very cold weather, then leave a door open into another room where a window is open. By day and by night, always keep a current of air flowing through the house. You do not want to sit or sleep in a draft, but some air circulating throughout your homea lot in the summer, less in the winteris a necessity to good health.
Fresh air should be inhaled as freely indoors as outdoors in warmer weather. In colder weather, your home will need to be heated. But beware of too much heat, for the burning of the fuel itself takes precious oxygen from the air. If necessary, dress more warmly, so that, as much as possible, you can breathe purer air at all times. Students of body health tell us that it requires an abundance of oxygen in the body and surrounding it in order to keep the physical organism in top condition. Why is this so? It is the oxygen in the air that purifies the blood, contributes to the production of body heat and energy, and conveys electrical energy with which to vitalize every organ and tissue. H.E. Kirschner, M.D., said this:
Do you have difficulty in going to sleep at night? Try this simple remedy for sleeplessness; it is a good one: Make sure that there is a current of air coming into the room (best from a window). The room should be comfortable and not chilling, but with some fresh air circulating through it. Now relax, pray as you lay there and give your life anew into the hands of God. Then slowly take several deep breaths, holding each one a moment before exhaling it. Let your mind slow down. Your thoughts are upon God, the peace of being with Him, and the need for deep, full breathing. Very soon you will be sound asleep.
Actually, this is also a good way to start the morning. When you first awake, take several deep breaths, and then as you arise take several more. Before breakfast, go out-of-doors and look on the things of nature and breathe deeply as you silently thank God for another day of life to work for Him. From time to time, throughout the day, repeat this deep breathing practice. At times, take in very deep breaths of air, in order to expand your lungs. (A method, that this writer uses with excellent results, is to exhale strongly and then allow the fresh new air to enter the lungs in whatever amount and rate the body wishes to take it in; then exhale again, and let more in.)
Develop a habit of deep breathing. Shallow breathing is a habit easily developed but harmful in its effects on the entire body. Many people only breathe "at the top of their lungs." Take full, deep inspirations of air. Do not just fill the top of your chest. Here are some additional suggestions that will help you: Just after eating, and also before retiring, go outside and take eighteen or twenty deep breaths, using the muscles of the abdomen. Inhale and exhale slowly. Some folk extend the arms above their heads while they do this. Take a walk out-of-doors just before you retire for the night. Breathe that fresh night air, relax your mind, talk to your heavenly Father, and thank Him for His continual care and blessings. Give yourself anew to Him. Then, with contentment of heart, go to sleep, forgetting all your present perplexities. Know and believe that He will work them all out at the right time. Get outdoors as much as possible. Develop hobbies and avocations that are out in the open air. Especially beware of hobbies and recreation that require being bent over with the chest cramped and the eyes and brain overtaxed.
Colder weather may require additional clothing, but continue to obtain the much needed pure, fresh air.
Keep proper ventilation in mind wherever you may be, whether it be in your home, in the office or shop, at church, etc. Avoid stuffy people who like to sit in stuffy rooms all day talking or watching television. If you are not able to directly help them by word or action, then leave them to their misery and go where there is air. And beware of tobacco "side stream." Scientific researchers now know that the cigarette smoke in a room can greatly injure adults, and especially children. Only stay with cigarette smokers long enough to help them; then go where you can have a purer atmosphere to breathe. Do not rent or purchase a home that is in any kind of low concavity. Watch out for homes in hollowed-out places, for they tend to be damp. Research studies by the National Institute of Health in Washington County, Virginia, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, revealed the fact that houses built in such low, miasmic areas frequently had a history of cancer in those who lived in them. This included homes in low places by creeks. Many do not realize the fact that there are continually flowing rivers of air. These currents, flowing into and along narrow valley bottoms, creeks, and rivers, are much more damp than the air found in more elevated places. But living in such damp places induces sickness and disease. If you reside in such a location, you would do well to move somewhere else.
You also do well not to permit too much shrubbery or shading too close to your house. This can keep the purifying air from circulating through the home.
So we can see that it is very important that we keep our houses properly ventilated. It is the fresh, purifying air inside a home that makes it a healthful place in which to live. When the day is sunny and warm, take the bedding out, hang it on the clothesline, and air it out. The purifying air and sunlight will do much to sterilize it. Take it back into the house before the dampness of the late afternoon sets in. You will notice that it all smells perfectly fresh. It is of the utmost importance that every room in the house be open to the sunlight and a current of air throughout the day.
On pages 16-17 of his book, "Nature's Seven Doctors," Dr. H.E. Kirschner explains that the most successful cure for tuberculosis of the lungs requires an unusually large amount of fresh air for the patients, day and night. "Sleeping porches were provided for all patients and . . they were allowed indoors only for meals and other duties . . This required warm sleeping garments and usually a stocking cap." He explains that a similar program was successfully followed for typhoid. Of course, such a strenuous cold-air regime would not work for many physical ailments, such as pneumonia. In every sickness, provide the patient with fresh air, but in most cases it should be fresh, warm air. The healing of wounds takes place more quickly in the presence of fresh air and sunlight. (But there are times when dirt may get into a wound if it is not covered, as when a workman has a cut on his finger.)
Do all you can to avoid poisonous gases in or near your home. This would include the use of unvented gas heaters, leaks from sewer gases, tobacco fumes, and agricultural sprays, such as defoliants, insecticides, mosquito spraying programs, and similar poisonous fumes and vapors. Specially treated woods are now being used in new house construction. They are supposed to resist insect attack for decades, but poisonous gases were applied to them, and it has been established that fumes from that wood escape into the house and surrounding air for several years after installation. Another source of danger is the use of new plastic hard-form insulation panels into walls during house construction or remodeling. Although true that these panels provide better R-factor insulation at a lower price, the fact remains that if the house ever catches on fire,poisonous fumes from those panels will fill the home! We live in a chemical age, and the air, water, vegetation, earth, and animal kingdom are being slowly poisoned to death. In my files I have a clipping that I cut out of a newspaper in July, 1958: BREATHING HELPS STOP THAT PAIN It's not the pain-killing properties of aspirin which make it so beneficial for arthritic patients.
The above is valuable information that you and I can use every day of our lives. Deep breathing reduces pain and relaxes the entire system. (But our suggestion is that you not use an aspirin-type product to help you do that breathing: There is a poisonous chemical in "headache pills" which causes the stomach to bleed internally each time it is taken, whether in tablet or powder form.) It is now known that fallen leaves emit carbon monoxide fumes.
The smog that envelopes homes and offices in and near the large cities is now known to be quite harmful in its effects. During morning and evening rush hours, when so much traffic is on the streets, smog will even be found in smaller cities and towns. A major source of the smog is automobile exhaust fumes, which contain two deadly chemicals: vaporized lead and sulfuric acid. Lead fumes, inhaled into the body, cause the destruction of red blood cells. Sulfuric acid is such a powerful toxic agent that it is the primary reason that stone cathedrals and buildings are crumbling throughout Europe. What is the solution? Move to the country, and not too close to a large city. A lack of fresh air is a significant factor in causing people to become ill. Yet how few realize this fact.
Since a lack of fresh air can cause sickness, how very important it is that fresh air be supplied to the ill so that they can become well.
Those who are aged, infirm, or invalid also have a very definite need of fresh, pure air to breathe.
It is frequently necessary, especially in cold weather, to warm the air in the home or office. But we must be careful to do this in moderation, since oxygen from the room is generally consumed in providing the heat (with a few exceptions, such as steam heat sent through pipes from a more distant heat ignition source).
How important it is that we ourselvesand our children alsostudy and work in rooms with adequate ventilation to the fresh outside air.
Buildings should be constructed in such a manner that there is always enough fresh air and sunlight entering them.
Yes, fresh air is important to our healthfor it is one of the simple remedies of nature, given by God to His people.
SPIRITUAL LESSONS God asks us to come to Him that we might breathe the air of heaven. The plan of redemption was designed to give us forgiveness of sin, as well as empowerment to resist temptation and obey the commandments of God. It was given to redeem us so we might live with God and the holy angels forever. Jesus said that He came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32). Only he who acknowledges himself to be a sinner before God can receive pardon and acceptance. The inquiry bursts from the heart: "Men and brethren, what shall we do? . . What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 2:37; 16:30). "The sorrow of the world worketh death," but "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation." (2 Corinthians 7:10). The cry of the soul is, "I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin" (Psalm 38:18). In heartfelt anguish for what he has done against God, he comes to Christ. "When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the Lord, and that person be guilty; then they shall confess their sin which they have done." (Numbers 5:6-7). How thankful we can be that Jesus forgives the humble repentant sinner. "For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee." (Psalm 86:5). "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). Thank God that "as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him." (Psalm 103:11). "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7). Oh, my friend, as we return to the Lord, He is so very happy to receive and accept us! "When he [the prodigal son, returning from years of sin] was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20). "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy." (Micah 7:18). "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke 15:10). Accepting Christ as his Saviour, the soul experiences the new birth. "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17). "Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back." (Isaiah 38:17). "Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19). There is a great blessing for those willing to seek the Lord and forsake their sins. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32:1-2). This experience is for you and me today! The call of Jesus is clear, and the message is cheering. There is hope for the lowliest. Coming to Christ, we give Him our sins and dedicate our lives to His service. All that He asks of us in His Word, we are now willing to do. Is this an experience that you want right now? I know it is. Open the doors of your heart and let the fresh air of God's salvation into your heart. It is refreshing and wonderful. It means eternal life. |
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