Tuesday, 3 December, 2002

This is a part of a series of devotions based on: God Was In This Place & I , i Did Not Know - by Lawrence Kushner



The Great Rabbi known as Rashi sees in the story of Jacob and the Angels & the ladder with an eye toward awareness..."had I known God was here, I would not have fallen asleep." Kushner goes on to speak of Moses' encounter with the burning bush that was not consumed. And that you would have had to stay there a look at it for a while before you would notice it was not being consumed.

The "burning bush" was not a miracle. It was a test. God wanted to find out whether or not Moses could pay attention to something for more than a few minutes. When Moses did, God Spoke. The trick is to pay attention to what is going on around you long enough to behold the miracle without falling asleep. There is another world, right here within this one , whenever we pay attention.



I know, it sounds like something Yoda would say in the "Star Wars" movies. I am not one who sits and waits and observe as much as I know is necessary. Too often, I am willing to jump forward at the first piece of information or insight that rips through the day. One of the ways this comes to most profoundly is when I am preparing for the Children's lesson for worship on Sunday. Rather than run around looking for what to do, I was told by a teacher many years ago that it is best to simply sit...or...simply take the time to observe what is already all around us. There will be a lesson. There will be an opportunity to see something new about life and the way I am engaging in life. Becoming aware of the world around us may simply mean we take the time to look at our world and be a child who knows nothing and yet wants to see the new toy or the object before her...more deeply. The smallest details may expose the greatest wealth of insight about many things - even life as it is before our God.



Connection: Within the movement of this day we are able to stop and look and become aware of the many facets of our day that make for the wonderful fullness of life that we too often shuffle past. The training sign for students who are learning to cross a set of train tracks is a simply one to remember as a sign for all the engagements of our lives: Stop, Look, Listen.



Surprise us Lord God with the wonderful gifts of your creation that remind us of your glory and the many ways you are present among us to shape us into the people you call beloved and promise to be with in all time. Calm our hearts that we may become aware of your burning desire to be with us. Amen.