God in the Ordinary
Have you noticed recently, how Spring has most definitely sprung? There are signs of new life all around us; flowers coming to bloom, beautiful blossom on the trees, and the birdsong often heard loud and clear. The better weather of course is also an indicator of the season we are in. Of course, as well as the Springtime that is evident, there is the opening up this week of shops and other businesses that have been closed over the last few months that is a welcome relief many whose livelihoods depend on this next step, and perhaps a sense of ‘normality’ returning for others.
However we choose to navigate through this next ‘step’ in this season of our lives, and however desperate (or not) we may be to move forward into something more recognisably ‘normal’, it’s important too that we keep on looking for God in the midst of our everyday lives (whatever they look like or we want them to look like) because God can meet with us, and indeed wants to meet with us, in our ordinary moments, as we look for Him.
Moses had a significant encounter with God as he was tending his sheep. In Exodus 3. Moses was doing his everyday, ordinary job, looking after the sheep, and it was in something quite ordinary that God caught his attention, using a bush that was seemingly on fire and yet was not burnt up. As Moses investigated this mysterious happening, God spoke to Him:
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“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:4-5) |
Moses encountered God in the midst of his everyday ‘doings’ and the ground on which Moses stood became holy because God Himself was there. Moses first had to notice the bush that was on fire and then respond by moving closer in order to encounter God. Where do we notice God in the everyday, ordinary moments of our lives? Do we take time to stop, to look, and to listen for Him? And when He speaks, how do we respond?
Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:
| “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes”. |
Perhaps today is a good day to specifically ask God to help us to see Him in the midst of our ordinariness…and as and when we do, may our response be to take off our shoes as we encounter Him in all His glory.
