Meditation for April, 2007

[Moses] led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There 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. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush. Exodus 3:1-4 NRSV

We have been in the wilderness during Lent and dwelt there where we could be alone with God. Now that it is April and Easter tide is here we are led by God beyond the wilderness perhaps to a mountain, perhaps to a garden centre, perhaps to our own garden. There the angel of the Lord will appear to us in some happening or other. If we see this sight with our spiritual eyes and stop to look at the sight before us, God calls us by name.

These visions from God are rare experiences and are made rarer because our spiritual eye does not always recognise them for what they are. Though we may see them with our physical sight, we often walk on past them without acknowledging them spiritually. God gives us signs and wonders but we have to be aware of them and stop to look at them in order for God to call us by name. What are these signs and wonders? At this time of year there are many such as blooming forsythia and lilac bushes; flowering crocus, daffodil and tulip bulbs; wild flowers such as trout lilies, spring beauties and trillium.

We are prepared to see these signs and wonders for what they are if we take daily time to be alone with God. Our inner spirit and our spiritual eye is trained to be aware of the Divine in many forms by God’s teaching in the quiet times; in the inner place with God we listen to God’s word in the scriptures, in the words of holy writers, and in our communion with God. Then, when we are led beyond the wilderness to the mountain or garden, we may stop to look at the wondrous sight, our spiritual eye will see and recognise God’s messenger, and we will be called by God out of the miracle of spring.

 © Judith Lawrence, April 2007

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