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Attentiveness in the Ordinary


Photo by Andrew Lvov on Unsplash

Anchor Scripture: “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’” — Exodus 3:4 (NLT)


Some of God’s most sacred invitations come in the middle of ordinary days.

Moses was not in a temple when he heard the voice of God. He was in the wilderness, tending sheep — dusty, routine work. No choir singing, no carved stone altar, no candles glowing. Just the scrape of sandals on sand and the bleating of sheep.

It was there — in the ordinary — that Moses noticed something unusual: a bush burning, but not consumed. Scripture says, “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him…”

Do you see it? God waited for Moses’ attention. It was only after Moses turned aside that God spoke.

Sacred stillness often begins with this: not escaping the ordinary, but choosing to become deeply attentive to it.

The God Who Dwells in the Common

We tend to divide life into sacred and secular. Prayer feels holy; folding laundry feels mundane. Worship songs feel sacred; sitting in traffic feels meaningless. But Scripture repeatedly shows us that God does not confine Himself to “sacred” spaces.

  • Jacob encountered God in the wilderness, laying his head on a rock.

  • Hagar met the God who sees her by a spring in the desert.

  • The disciples recognized Jesus not in a synagogue, but in the breaking of bread at an ordinary meal.

What if every place is potentially holy — not because of where we are, but because of Who is there?

The burning bush of Moses’ day may not look like a blazing flame in ours. It might look like:

  • A child tugging at your sleeve, asking a question deeper than they realize.

  • A co-worker pausing long enough to share what really weighs on them.

  • A shaft of sunlight breaking through blinds in the middle of a weary afternoon.

  • The quiet nudge to pray when someone suddenly comes to mind.

God has always been a God who comes near in ordinary places. The question is: Will we turn aside long enough to notice?

The Discipline of Attention

In a culture of constant scrolling, attention is currency. Everyone — companies, algorithms, advertisements — is fighting for it. But what if our greatest spiritual act this week is simply to pay attention?

Attention is love’s first expression. When we give someone our attention, we affirm their worth. When we give God our attention, we open ourselves to encounter Him.

The spiritual practice here is simple but not easy:

  • Pause in the ordinary.

  • Notice what you would normally pass by.

  • Turn aside.

Sometimes the hardest part of prayer is not the words we say, but the willingness to stop what we are doing and shift our gaze.

Why Attentiveness Matters

Exodus 3 is not just about Moses noticing the bush — it’s about God noticing Moses’ noticing. “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him…”

There is a divine reciprocity in attentiveness. God honors those who pause long enough to see.

And here’s the hope: If God spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Midian, He can speak to us in the wilderness of our routines. No moment is too common for God to transform into holy ground.

Practical Steps for Attentiveness This Week

Here are some ways to practice attentiveness in the ordinary:

  1. Slow down your steps. Walk just a bit slower than usual and notice what you would normally pass by.

  2. Practice “holy curiosity.” Ask, “Lord, what do You want me to see here?” even in mundane tasks.

  3. Listen with your eyes. When someone speaks to you, give them your full attention — phone down, mind quiet.

  4. Name the moment. When something strikes you as meaningful, pause and say, “This is holy ground.”

A Takeaway for This Week

Sacred attentiveness is the doorway to encounter. When we turn aside to look, God often calls our name.

Moses’ story teaches us that God is not waiting for us only in temples or mountaintops. He is waiting in the ordinary: in kitchens and classrooms, in offices and grocery aisles, in hospital rooms and quiet backyards.

The invitation of sacred stillness in everyday life is simple: pay attention.

And when we do, we just might hear our own name called in the quiet.

Questions for Reflection

  1. What “ordinary spaces” in my life feel least sacred?

  2. When was the last time I slowed down enough to notice God in an unexpected place?

  3. What is one practical way I can “turn aside” this week to pay attention to God?

  4. How might I honor the people around me by giving them fuller attention?

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