This week, a simple, yet seemingly profound, realisation hit me — the neck is the only part that connects the head to the body. Ok, stop laughing at the apparent simplicity of that statement and check this out. The ancient Hebrews have at least three words for Spirit/Soul. One of these words is napesh. This word can also be translated wind, or for our interests — neck. The ancient Hebrews built part of their language (and therfore theology) around the thought that the neck is intimately connected to the soul. If we look at the Jewish Shema (Deut 6:4-5), our as we know it better the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-39) we see this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (napesh) and with all your mind. This got me to thinking about the neck as a metaphor for the spiritual role of the church. As I continued to think about this I thought about all that is present in the standard, off the shelve neck. The throat — by which food makes it from our head to our bodies. The air valves — by which air makes it from our nose or mouth to our lungs. Vertebrae — by which our neck has a frame. Muscles — by which our neck supports our head. The voice box — by which we are able to speak. Not to mention the thyroid gland that helps keep our bodies in homeostasis.  And yet, I take my neck for granted and never pay any special attention to the function of my neck. Much like the church, I only notice my neck when something has gone wrong. Like I’ve pulled a muscle, or swallowed water down the ‘wrong pipe.’