It is amazing how many of our superstitious ways revolve around death, hell and the grave. Take for example:
‘The Yawn Reflex
Today, we believe that it shows good manners to cover your mouth and to say excuse me after a broad and noisy yawn. Well, originally, good manners had nothing to do with it. In the ancient days, it was believed that the Devil made a person yawn so that he could gain access into the body and cause that person grave danger. If that person is observed yawning he would say excuse me because he knew that yawning was contagious and would cause the second person to yawn, too. Thus putting that person in grave danger. So the first yawner would say ‘excuse me’ for putting you in danger. The Hindu people would snap their fingers three times to counter the Devil antics.
What is your take on yawning? How would you feel if you were given an opportunity to engage a new friend or a stranger in a lively discussion about the evolution of yawning? I can see you now, discussing the good and evil powers that encumbers our lives, in today’s world. Try it! Who knows. You just might gain a new convert and lead them to the cross.
Here is a little more information about yawning. The Medical doctors today tell us that yawning can be due to sleepiness, exhaustion, shallow breathing or observation. Also, one of the first exercises that a new born baby performs is to stretch and yawn after its body breathes in fresh air. Medical scientists believe that there is a yawn center in the brain that is activated by our lungs and under certain conditions cause us to yawn.
Now Take Sneezing
How many “Gesundheit” does a person get after sneezing? And do you know what it means? Well it means, “God bless you.” The custom of asking God’s blessing initiated with early man who believed that the spirit resided in the air and since we breathe air in to our heads, it stands to reason that the spirit resided in the head. A sneeze would accidentally expel the spirit. So a person would ask God to put it back. The act of bowing towards the sneezer was also counter-magic. For it meant, “May your soul not escape.”
Now, if the opportunity presents itself whereby a person in your presence sneezes, offer them a small new packet of Kleenex. (You just happened to have a new pack in your pocket or purse.). Now you can start witnessing for the Master. No doubt this new and forward way to approach witnessing is new to you, but I bet you will have a lot of success. And no doubt, the person will return to you the pack of Kleenex.
The Conclusion Of The Matter
Now imagine being in a room filled with sneezers and yawners. This combination of guests could be fatal. Don’t forget, a yawn gave the Devil access into the body and a sneeze could expel your good spirit. Thus leaving your body defenseless. The spirit of the Devil would be exposed out in the room trying to gain entrance into someone else; Gesundheits being shouted aloud from across the room; some guests bobbing up and down towards the sneezer; and the yawners approaching others and saying I’m sorry, I’m sorry for infecting you. What a hilarious scene from an Austin Powers movie.
(Leave with a big yawn, cover your mouth and say excuse me. Next, give out a loud sneeze. After the audience responds with Gesundheits say,…O, Well.)
Please share your successes with me. The Holy Spirit is waiting.
Click www.tgifmasterminds.com every Friday for a new post from
the Master's servant Manager...Me!
Conversations With God Using Scripture 