Are we rushing through life, glimpsing but never truly seeing God’s presence around us? This Lent, we’re invited to slow down, turn aside, and discover the hidden treasures that God places in our everyday lives. Using Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44), along with Moses’ encounter at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-5), we explore what it means to truly notice and respond to God’s presence in our daily routines.
Join us as we begin this Lenten journey, learning how to pause, turn aside, and see the sacred moments we might otherwise miss. Discover how Lent isn’t merely about giving up comforts, but about cultivating a heart attentive to God’s treasures hidden in plain sight.
May this message inspire you to slow down and experience God’s grace and goodness in the ordinary moments of life.

“Turning Aside to See” Reflection Questions Scripture (Matthew 13:44-46; Exodus 3:1-5):
1. Think back over this past week. Where did you glimpse God’s presence in something ordinary that you might usually overlook?
2. Moses turned aside from his routine to encounter God at the burning bush. Is there a “burning bush” in your life right now—a place where God might be inviting you to slow down and pay closer attention?
3. Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a hidden treasure. What treasures have you discovered in moments when you paused to notice what God was doing around you?
4. Reflect honestly—what patterns or habits in your daily routine tend to prevent you from noticing God’s presence? What could help you break free from these patterns?
5. How might your approach to Lent shift if you saw it primarily as a season of “re-seeing,” rather than simply giving something up? What clutter might you need to clear away to better see God’s work around you?
Personal Practice:
Which of the practical steps mentioned (the Daily Examen, Sacred Pauses, Sabbath Moments) resonates most deeply with you? How could you commit to practicing it consistently throughout Lent?
1. The Daily Examen: Set aside 10 minutes each evening to review your day, asking: “Where did I glimpse God today? What bright field did I pass by too quickly? Where might I turn aside tomorrow?”
2. Sacred Pauses: Identify 2-3 transition moments in your daily routine (perhaps before meals, when entering your home, or starting your car). Use these as triggers to pause for 30 seconds, breathe deeply, and become present to God’s presence.
3. Sabbath Moments: Designate one hour each week as a “no-hurry zone.” Put away your devices, step outside, and intentionally notice—the sky, the trees, the faces of loved ones, the texture of ordinary objects transformed by your attention.
Prayer:
Lord of the field, open our eyes to see You in the ordinary. Give us the wisdom to turn aside, to notice, and to cherish the glimpses of Your kingdom in our midst. Slow our hurried hearts that we might not miss the treasures You place before us. In these forty days, teach us again how to see. Amen.