Reading: Exodus 3:1-3

Exodus 3:3 – “Then Moses said to himself, Let me check out this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t burning up.”

As we join Moses’ story today, we find out that he is no longer living in Egypt, enjoying life in Pharaoh’s palace. He’s just about on the opposite end of life. In chapter 2, Moses kills an Egyptian who was abusing a Hebrew, “one of his own people.” As the story becomes public knowledge, Moses flees Egypt and ends up in Midian. He marries and starts a family. He goes to work tending sheep for Jethro, his father-in-law. Time passes. Back in Egypt, God hears the Israelites’ cries and God remembers the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This sets the stage for today’s reading.

Moses is out on the edge of the desert, tending someone else’s sheep. He is on Mount Horeb when God’s messenger (or God?) appears as a flame of fire in a bush. Although likely not connecting this to God at this point, Moses is intrigued. There is fire, yes, but the bush is not being consumed. Moses thinks, “Let me check out this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t burning up.” He paused what he was doing and chose to be present to that which was before him. As I think about this choice and about how well Jesus practiced being present, I am convicted by the choices I too frequentlymake. More than once I’ve chosen busyness or a felt need to get something done over pausing and being present. How about you?

Sometimes the one present is like a burning bush – on “fire” over their circumstances or some situation. But this is their norm, so my temptation is to placate quickly – slow down, it’ll be okay – so I can get back to work. Sometimes it is just the opposite. The one in need is reluctant to share. They hang around on the edge of the conversation or just outside the group. It is “easy” to not notice them, to wrap up the current conversation so that my pressing busyness can resume. And there are many opportunities in between these two examples. To be present. That is the call and the challenge. Lord, make me more like Jesus!

Prayer: Lord God, yes, there is important work to be done. But our vocational tasks are very, very seldom more important than the one that you place in our path. Help us to slow down, to focus on the other, and to love them more than we love ourselves. Give us the right words to speak and guide us in the helpful actions to take. Use us as you will. Amen.