One of the contemporary writers on things celtic that I truly enjoy is J. Philip Newell. This quote from him is one I haven’t been able to shake. It gets at this issue in our age - our fascination with future casting (what does this mean for tomorrow) and planning and gathering information and resources for next week, month or year. We live for tomorrow and, as a result, fail to be present and available - right now.

In gazing at the horizon we walk right by many a “burning bush.”

So J. Phillip Newell challenges us to see that every moment of our day is an opportunity to encounter the Living God of the Universe. Maybe you will be struck by the simple complexity of his observation.

“God is to be found not by stepping aside from the flow of daily life into religious moments and environments, or by looking away from creation to a spiritual realm beyond, but rather by entering attentively the depths of the present moment. There we will find God, wherever we may be and whatever we may be doing. Our times of religious observation and meditative practice are not alternatives to encountering God in the ever-flowing stream of life. Rather they are moments of preparing ourselves to be alert to the One who is always and everywhere present, closer to us than we are to ourselves”

J. Philip Newell, The Book of Creation
Paulist Press, 1999, page 7 & 8

The quote buzzed through my mind as I went buzzing around my property on my compact tractor yesterday - I was overwhelmed by the carolina blue sky here in western PA and I couldn’t help but reflect on Jesus’ final words, “all authority in heaven and on earth have been given unto me… and lo, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:18-20) May we become more alert, attentive and available to God’s voice calling out within us and from without.