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One of our struggles as modern people is the ability to be mindful of our surroundings and the people around us. Even though our bodies are in one place, very often, our minds and hearts are somewhere else because of multitasking, planning, or anxiety. Being engaged in the present moment is so difficult! For example, have you ever been so preoccupied as you drove somewhere that when you arrived, you didn’t even recall how you got there? It’s not that you were sleepy or distracted, it’s more like your mind was on autopilot. Think of all the food we’ve consumed in the last week; how much of it could we remember and describe? Or the people we encountered at the store, at a restaurant, on the phone, or in our everyday business? Even though they may have shared their name or some other information, do we remember anything about them? Let’s look at something that just happened; can we recall where our readings came from for Mass without checking the book or asking the person next to us? Would we say from Exodus, 1st Corinthians, the gospel of Luke?
In general, the problem is not memory. Most of us can and do remember incredible amounts of information about things we are passionate about. Instead, the issue for most of us is the ability to maintain a sort of spiritual, emotional, and mental awareness of what is happening around us. We are so flustered and frantic that we miss much of what God and others are trying to share with us.
In today’s first reading from Exodus, consider how incredible it is that Moses’ life and vocation – not to mention salvation history – are changed forever because he was aware of what was happening around him; he took the time to investigate; he was open to God; and he was willing to engage and listen. We might think, “well easy for him, there was a burning bush as a sign.” But go back to the reading again and pay close attention to what we are told. Moses wasn’t surprised by the fact that a bush was on fire; apparently fiery shrubs weren’t all that unusual! What surprised him was that while he watched it burn, it didn’t change. That observation only happens when someone stops, watches, observes and is not running past to something else. If Moses had been wrapped up in his own problems or thoughts, in a hurry, or simply responding to a text message, he could have easily passed by, assuming the bush would soon burn up or that someone else would be along to tend to it. He would have missed the invitation by God to come closer and enter holy ground. Who knows, maybe this wasn’t the first sign he had been given but it may have been the first one he had noticed! Sometimes I wonder what signs we are missing as we fly from one thing to the next, as we rue the past or plan for the future instead of savoring the present moment where God is usually found.
How often do we pass by someone or something that could transform us, if we were open to them? If we slowed down enough to observe, to engage, to listen, to notice? I think all of us ask God to give us signs of his love and we want him to show us the way but are we actually mindful enough in everyday life to slow down, watch, and listen? God has desires and plans for each of us, just as God had desires and plans for Moses. And he has been and will continue to reach out to us and provide signs of his love, care, and mercy. But they are easy to miss if we are not looking for them.
Far too often we explain away these signs as nothing more than coincidence, fate, or luck. Even worse, sometimes, we give ourselves the credit, we believe we can will something into existence as if we are gods ourselves. I remember a priest once telling me, “There is no such thing as luck, there are no coincidences. God always wants it or allows it for a reason.”
Each of us can think back to special people and positive events that have changed us forever and brought great blessings into our lives. How humbling to know that those are people and moments that God intended specifically for us, for our well-being and happiness. They are his signs to us; THEY ARE NOT ACCIDENTS! Even more mind-boggling is the thought that there are many other signs and wonders we have completely missed and walked past because of our preoccupation with ourselves, our busyness, and our desire to be in control. Some of the most powerful God-moments in my life were not on my calendar or part of my plan.
Lent is a blessed time because it provides an opportunity to slow down, let go of what is not essential and be more mindful, more present to God and others, through acts of charity, fasting, and prayer. Even the simplest things can help us to be more aware of God and others. Saying a prayer each morning when I wake up reminds me that the day is a gift from God. Not everyone woke up today or had another day like you and me. So that first prayer causes us to be grateful and realize we are blessed. Praying before meals reminds us that we are fortunate to have food to eat. Many do not have enough or any food this day and yet we have more than we need and with so little effort. Mindful of that gift, we try not to be wasteful or gluttonous with what we eat and we work to make sure others have what they need to live and flourish. Finally, before we go to bed, we can thank God for helping us through another day. Setting aside a minute or two, we can review our day, calling to mind several of the blessings, the moments we saw God loving us and providing for our needs. We will also acknowledge the signs we missed, the opportunities we ignored, and the wrongs we committed so that we can learn and do better tomorrow, should we receive that gift.
Mindfulness is really that simple and easy. It is already baked into our day and the little acts of faith we learned as small children. Take time in the coming weeks to get back to basics and believe that God is giving us signs every day. Learning to see and respond to them will make a big difference over time and will allow us to follow the path of Moses who himself became an important sign of God’s love, mercy, and salvation. May God bless our week and open our eyes to see him at work in our lives!
