You Are Standing on Holy Ground #GGC12

            I recently bought a pair of sandals, I am reminded of a story in Exodus, “Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he 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 had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ He said further, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”

            Have you ever stood on holy ground? I am currently in Tampa with the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, the top legislative body for my church. I walked into the main hall of the Tampa Convention Center and walked up to the table on which 988 delegates will celebrate the Eucharist. This round table upheld by a tree-stump looking base will hold the body and blood of Christ as we come together from different parts of the world for a common goal. I wanted to bend down and take my shoes off, I wanted to cry actually as I realized that this was holy ground. The palpable presence of God was there, the spirit of God was hovering and life was good.

            The presence of God is an incredible experience, look for it this next week. Whether it be in the warmer weather or the experience of a church service. The idea that God is present reminds me of that wonderful hymn, “God of love and God of power, thou has called us for this hour” This time of year it is imperative that we as a people of faith realize our callings and live into them. While it is easy for us to sit on the sidelines of this life and commentate, it’s much more imperative that we join together and come before the table. It’s imperative we find the grace of God present in our lives and in the life of our world.

            Friends I am praying for what God is doing, so come to the table, you who have been here before and you who this is your first time. You are standing on holy ground; you have found your maker. May we all take our shoes off and say, thanks be to God.