Skip to main content

Moses' veil, placing others at ease

Moses, the reluctant leader, did not have an easy time of life. Certainly he grew up with creature comforts  in the Pharaoh’s household, yet his loving parents were not the ones who raised him. Moses is a character larger than life, from the burning bush, to presence during the plagues, to teaching about manna in the desert, to mountaintop experiences with the 10 commandments and so much more. I don’t think he wanted the burden of leadership thrust upon him, but he answered the call and went where God led. Spending time in God’s presence, Moses grew close to God, able to talk comfortably and argue persuasively for his people. I can only imagine how much Moses wanted the people to know for themselves that closeness. Yet, Moses’ people were terrified. To make them more comfortable he wore a veil due shield his glowing face from his people. I cannot imagine hiding myself under cloth, in the desert heat, as a way to make others more comfortable, but that is just what he did. He did not seem to consider his own comfort as more important.
Good leaders put others at ease. I think of a pastor of mine, a large man, who would carefully lower his girth to sit on the chancel steps each Sunday with the children to share Dr. D’s bag to tell the children’s message. Servant leaders are those who are willing to do the dirty jobs since they need to be done, to place others at ease, like the school principal not afraid to clean up the front of the school on her hands and knees. 
Moses’ veil put others at ease, made him approachable.

The essence of hospitality is putting others at ease, making others comfortable. How can we place others at ease? Is it sitting on the chancel steps with squirmy kids? Is it keeping quiet on an opinion, but expressing a loving concern with positive words of shared values? Is it seeking out the person standing alone, apart during coffee hour? How is God calling you this day to put others at ease?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guilt, peace, and call

Betty Hollister shares: Lots of swirly thoughts this week, but they are, for the most part, disjointed and unsettling.  The most consistent battle I have had with this study is the  guilt :  guilt that I am never going to live in a three-by-nine foot closet; guilt that I am never going to travel for days into the mountains enduring physical hardships to meet God, guilt that I can’t even work up a desire to fast on a Friday.  I refuse to feel the slightest bit guilty that I won’t beat myself as penance.  I am one of those people who tends to take on the “guilt of the world,” but I am not even tempted with that practice.  Most of the last five weeks, I have just been thinking what an odd collection of people to use as inspiration.  BUT, as I have admitted repeatedly, this whole study has made me think.  So, once I get past the guilt and look at this week’s contributions, I am struck by the contrasting emotion of peace. Can we feel guilty and sti...
Post a Comment
Read more

Practicing a holy Lent

As I have grown in my faith, I have come to realize that the time of Lent can be powerful. I did not always know this, especially as a protestant. My Catholic friends would give up things, but I somehow felt superior that I didn't have to go in for that stuff. I could eat all the meat I wanted to on Fridays. And Easter could be powerful, with trumpet fanfare accompanying my mother playing the organ, the glory of Easter lilies, the hymns sung but once a year. Then I married Jay, whose Catholic practices impinged on my feelings of superiority. Lent included fasting and abstaining from meat on Fridays, once we were married.  So I started following some of those practices each year, and I found I really looked forward to Easter, not only to be able to have those things I had given up, but because this season of Lent became real.  I discovered that Easter was far more meaningful if I observed Lent more than just on Sundays.  So, I invite you to join us as we journe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pilgrimage Walking

The late Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa was a key figure in bringing about Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Apartheid Movement.   He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 as a “leader to all individuals and groups in South Africa who, with their concern for human dignity, fraternity and democracy, incite the admiration of the world”.   When asked about his tenacity and strength, Bishop Tutu spoke of his pilgrimage walk every morning.   Every morning, the Bishop took a prayer walk.   These prayer walks provided Desmond Tutu purpose, focus, endurance and resilience for the good fight. Physiologically speaking, walking is an excellent exercise.   After a proper warm-up which usually means walking slowly until one gets up to a brisk pace, typically between five to ten minutes, it provides many of the pulmonary and cardiovascular benefits including stimulating brain endorphin and serotonin without the wear and tear of the knees, hips and back of ...
2 comments
Read more