Ordinary as leaves. That is what the talk was about. When Moses ventured into the desert he found himself at the foot of a blazing bush. Yet it was not consumed. How could this be? God spoke to him from the flames, inviting him both to take off his shoes, and to step into leadership. 

 

The minister had several clever ways to demonstrate how the marvelous is clothed in the ordinary. One was a simple paper device that looks like greenery on the outside but when opened up reveals the orange glow of fire. Enfolded deeper still were images of God's love for his people. Another illustration was leaves with a single word like Human, or Job. Yes, those are common, but when we have eyes to peer more deeply we see an Angel within a person, or a Call within a job. 

 

Moses was commissioned by God to accomplish a task. Ostensibly simple enough. Walk away from slavery. But the stronghold that the Egyptians held on the Israelites necessitated a miracle, no less wonderful than a fiery bush. 

 

It was especially sweet to have young children help with the visuals. They are the embodiment of beloved beings disguised as kids who may or may not have remembered to brush their teeth. The littlest one handed her mermaid to the minister, perhaps as an offering of something she loves. She had absolutely no idea of the effect she had on everyone in the room. Which is how God designs it. It took no extra effort for her to melt our collective hearts. She was simply sharing her mermaid. 

 

When we respond to that fiery inner dictate, we too are given the power to affect people around us. Not because we are working particularly hard, but because God wooshes in, like a fire kindled in the hearth on a cold night.