My friend Rich Dixon is helping me out here, with posts that come just at the right time and just with the right challenge for me. Here’s the latest:

I’m not good at noticing.

Even after thousands of miles on bike tours, I’m still astonished at how frequently I miss something extraordinary. Often another rider will stop for a cool photo op while I’m totally oblivious. If they hadn’t noticed, I would have missed it.

Makes me wonder…in all those miles, how many times do I roll past something God wants me to see?

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After Moses was exiled from Egypt, he became a shepherd. One day, as he was tending sheep in the wilderness, he saw a bush that burned but wasn’t consumed.

So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

In the ensuing encounter, God called Moses to lead the Hebrews out of slavery.

I’m glad I wasn’t the shepherd. What burning bush? I didn’t see a burning bush.

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In this new upside-down life, even those of us whose circumstances seem relatively stable are sensitive to an increased sense of social desperation. It’s tempting to focus narrowly on zoom calls, masks, death tolls, finances, and the other items on the urgent list.

That stuff matters. We can’t ignore it any more than Moses ignored his sheep.

As we navigate the desert of COVID-19, I’m pretty sure God has something for us to notice. It’s not likely to be something spectacular like a forest fire. While herding sheep in the desert or moving through a world re-shaped by pandemic, a small, distant brush fire might not seem important. If we’re don’t pay attention, we might miss what God thinks is noteworthy.

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Jesus, help us to be aware. As we move along the path, help us to see beneath the urgent and discern what’s important to you.

Help us to notice.

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After years of trying to get me to ride with them, Rich and Becky have made the Hope and Freedom Challenge open to walkers and runners, too. I’m in for 100 miles this summer. Check the link to see how your miles can give support and attention to kids in an orphanage, rescued from trafficking.