"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.
Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 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 3:1-5, NIV)
Burning bushes were not uncommon in hot, dry deserts but what caught Moses’ attention was that the flame did not consume the bush. So he paused from his everyday work, to move closer to the bush in order to look more closely. And as the scripture tells us, it was "when the Lord saw that he had gone over to look” that God called to him, telling him to remove his shoes for he was on holy ground. Later, God shares his plan for Moses.
In our everyday lives, we, too, are invited to pause from our many distractions, pay closer attention, and let wonder capture our hearts -- as poet Mary Oliver encourages us in her poem "Sometimes":
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
How might you become more aware of these "burning bush" moments in your life?
As you listen to this song below, consider how you might be more open to your holy ground moments, and how you wish to respond.
Holy Ground: The Klezmatics (lyrics by Woody Guthrie): https://youtu.be/gio5sN0gppE
Prayer Practice: Our suggested prayer practice for this week is Visio Divina. Similar to Lectio Divina (which is a method of praying with scripture or other spiritual writing), Visio Divina is praying with images, such as religious paintings, icons, or even a scene in nature. There are many images online that you can search. In the coming weeks, you may want to choose images that relate to Lent, Holy Week and Easter. I will include one familiar image at the bottom of this page if you'd like to practice this prayer before searching for other images.
One site that has a simple and lovely way of describing the steps of this prayer is "How to Pray Visio Divina" by Kathryn Shirey. The site includes suggestions and sources for images you might use.
Christine Valters Paintner, of Abbey of the Arts, offers slightly different guidelines for praying Visio Divina which are included below (they might be easier to download and keep). You might like to try both ways of praying with Visio Divina to see what feels most helpful for you.
You are welcome to share your experience of praying Visio Divina in the comments below:
What painting/icon/scene did you select?
Where in the image were you drawn?
How did method of prayer feel for you?
Blessings as you "practice" this way of prayer. Visio Divina can be a very meaningful prayer practice to keep in your prayer "tool box."
VISIO DIVINA
Settling and Shimmering (Lectio)
Close your eyes and prepare yourself for prayer by connecting to your body and breath, gently deepening the rhythm of your breath, bringing your awareness to your heart center. As you breathe in, imagine receiving the gift of vision, the sacred ability to see deeply below the surface of things. As you breathe out, imagine being able to allow your eyes to communicate love to others and to what you gaze upon. Allow a few moments of preparing your eyes to behold what is before you.
Gently open your eyes and gaze upon your chosen picture or nature scene softly with “the eyes of the heart.” This is a gently receptive gaze, not a hard, penetrating stare. Move your eyes over the image, taking in all of its colors, shapes, and symbols. Bring a sense of curiosity to this image, exploring it with reverence, noticing all of its textures and features that come with seeing more clearly.
As your eyes wander around the image in a brief visual pilgrimage, notice if there is a particular area or feature of the picture that draws your attention or stirs energy for you. Allow your eyes to rest gently there.
Savoring and Stirring (Meditation)
Be present to this place on the picture that is calling for more attention. Open your imagination to memories and other images that want to stir in you in response. Allow this place, these symbols or colors, to unfold, to make other connections. Savor what emerges. Notice if there are any feelings arising within you. Connect to your breath again, making room for whatever wants to move through you in this time.
Summoning and Serving (Oration/prayer)
As the picture moves your heart, listen for how you are being invited in this moment of your life out of this time of prayer. Make space for your heart to be touched and for a longing to respond to God’s call to move in you. The invitation may emerge as an image, a symbol or words.
Slowing and Stilling (Contemplation)
Close your eyes if they are still open and release the images you have been gazing upon Sink into stillness, slow your breath down, and rest in the grace of being for several minutes.
When you are ready to end your time of prayer, connect with your breath again and gently bring your awareness back to the room. In maintaining eyes of heart, sometimes it can be helpful to gaze upon the image one more time – following your prayer, taking the image in again, and seeing if you notice anything new. Then offer a moment of gratitude for the way this image touched your heart.
Source: Christine Valters Paintner, Lectio Divina (Nashville: Skylight Paths, 2011).
"The Return of the Prodigal Son" by Rembrandt van Rijn,
As I listened to the song by Woody Guthrie, God's Spirit reminded me that the work I do in front of my PC for Education4Kids is holy ground. Thank you Woody Guthrie. Thank you Spirit.