God called to Moses from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” Moses said, “Here I am.”
Then God said, “Remove the sandals from your feet,
for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3: 4-5
When writer Diana Butler Bass led church retreats, she would try to help church folks understand generational differences regarding faith and practice. One question that would always come up was, “Why do young adults seem more invested in spending time in nature rather than church?” A 2015 Baylor University study supports this claim. The study discovered that places with ‘more beautiful weather and scenery have lower rates of membership and affiliation with religious organizations.’ Welcome to the beautiful state of North Carolina!
However, these comments seem to be more about criticizing those who skip religious services occasionally in favor of hiking or kayaking or biking on the sabbath. I say this confessing that I missed church this morning because I was busy porch sitting looking out on my farm at the wild flowers and mountain beauty. In my defense, however, I ask, “Where did Moses find God? And the answer is- outside, by a burning bush!
I am not saying we should skip church or take our camp chairs out in the yard to worship each Sunday, but I am reminding us that before there were church buildings there were places in nature to worship. There were burning bushes and stones piled high as alters and running waters and mountain tops and grassy fields and homes for calling and praising and baptizing and teaching and sharing a meal.
Here at First Presbyterian we have picnics, hiking groups, camping trips, outside worship, church gardens, fellowship suppers, and retreats. Could we have more please? Because when we hear these words- the place on which you are standing is holy ground, we should remind ourselves that we are standing on holy ground wherever we are, in a church building or outside in nature. And when we respond saying, “Here I am!,” every moment becomes sacred!
Terry Hanna