Watch where you walk

Ok, the subject heading for this blog has multiple meanings for me, but just to get one of them out of the way - yes, we have 2 dogs (our beloved Rose and Cooper) and so watching where we step is just a normal way of traversing the lawn for us.

Those who are unsteady on their feet or have the natural tendency towards clumsiness (like myself) need to watch our steps to stay upright.  Or what about watching where I walk as a practice of attentiveness to the world around us.  Like my Blurry Lives post, we can miss a great deal around us when we fail to remain alert.  I think of a time hiking with a friend who was intent on our destination while I find my eyes kept getting caught by the flash of a red salamander scurrying across our path, a bird winging through the trees or a small wildflower hidden amongst the dry leaves (of course it may be that I am easily distracted as well).

Yet. today this title speaks of the story of Moses' encounter with the great I AM in the book of Exodus.  It is one of my favorite biblical relationship revelations.  Moses is just minding his own business or actually that of his father in law Jethro.  From the palace of the Pharaoh to hiding out in the wilderness, Moses is trying to settle into a more "normal" life.  But God steps into his business, as well as our business today, grabbing our attention.

Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. (Exodus 3:2)

Whaaaaatttt?  What is this?  I've never seen anything like this before?   I must turn aside and look at this great sight said Moses (verse 3).

Moses' attention is grabbed and diverted from his regular routines and tasks.  Something different is going on!

And God called out to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses".  And he said "here I am"  Then he said, "Come no closer!  Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (verses 4-5)

(I think whenever this is read that people should take off their shoes.  I think we need to feel the floor beneath our feet, no matter what it is - linoleum, wood, grass, carpet - to more intimately connect us to the earth beneath our feet, for we are on holy ground no matter where we are standing.)

Pay attention to where you are standing, walking, living.  Watch where you walk!

Watch where I walk?

More than just to keep us from stepping in or on something or to keep from falling.  More even than an attentiveness to the world around us - watch where you walk for this is holy, sacred ground.  Our footsteps mark the ground that was made by our Creator.  It is not just the physical earth beneath our feet that we need to heed, it is the places that we go and the people we meet.  Our lives are surround and imbued with the sacredness of God.

Watch where you walk so that as you go through the routines of your day or encounter something new, you may be aware of the presence of God with and amongst you. 

Watch where you walk to see the path that God has set before you and how God is accompanying you along that road. 

Watch where you walk to see who God has placed next to you or behind or in front of you. 

Watch where you walk because God is here and you are on holy ground!