Holy Ground

Read Exodus 3:1-6

The Grand Sweep has now taken us into the book of Exodus in our journey through the Bible. We read another of my favorite verses, Exodus 3:5, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." I am a person who hates to wear shoes. If you drop by the office you are likely to find me without them. I quote this verse as justification for my behavior.

But truly "holy ground" is an important spiritual concept for us to ponder. In a sense all ground is holy because all ground is created by God. But usually we each have places that are particularly important on our spiritual journey. We have been on retreats or vacations or get aways to these places and experienced the presence of God in a particularly strong way. These are places we want to return to from time to time in order to get back in touch with God. And even if we cannot physically return there, we will often return there in our minds.

I invite you to find a holy space for study and reflection in your home. Our year long journey through the Bible will not be easy. Some books of the Bible are not very easy to read. Leviticus and Numbers have so many laws and detailed rituals that you think they will never end. The litany of "the king did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" in the prophets also gets old. But do not despair! We will get through these readings together. And if you have a holy space to read, relect and pray each day--a daily holy ground--you will find yourself drawing closer to God even through the most difficult of scriptures.

So take off your shoes, sit back, relax, and get ready to keep reading. Through all the scripture, God is present. God has much more patience than we ever deserve. The great "I Am" will come to us as we read, and we have no idea how much we will grow, individually and as a church, as we remain open to hearing what God has to say to us through God's word this year. That's a promise.

Grace and peace,
Rev Linda