The Illusion of Killing Time
We often talk about killing time—waiting for the next thing, the real thing, the moment that actually matters. We scroll through our phones, rush through tasks, fill space with distractions just to get through the day. But in doing so, we are not just passing time—we are wasting something sacred.
What if, instead, we saw all time as sacred? What if, rather than moving from one moment to the next, we learned to fully inhabit each moment as it unfolds? What if, instead of killing time, we let time live in us?
Moses and the Burning Bush: An Ordinary Moment Turned Sacred
Moses was not in a temple. He was not praying or seeking revelation. He was simply doing his daily work, working for his father-in-law actually—tending sheep—when he saw a bush on fire, yet not consumed. And in that moment, something shifted. The ground he stood on was declared holy.
God spoke, not in some distant, ethereal realm, but in the middle of Moses’ ordinary routine. This was a burning bush moment—one that had always been there, waiting to be noticed. The grass didn’t change all of a sudden. It was rather that Moses started to pay attention, this moment elevates his attention. So the question rather maybe, what changes the quality of my attention?
How many burning bushes do we walk past every day, too caught up in our rush to the next thing to see them? How many holy moments do we ignore because we are too busy killing time?
The Sacred in the Ordinary
A house is not just walls and a roof—it is a home, a place where laughter echoes, where love is exchanged, where small, seemingly mundane moments shape us.
A meal is not just food on a plate—it is nourishment, not just for the body but for the soul, a time to slow down, connect, and be present.
A conversation is not just words—it is the meeting of two lives, a sacred exchange of stories, thoughts, and emotions.
What if we saw every moment through this lens? What if, instead of rushing through life, we looked for the burning bushes?
How to Find the Burning Bush in Your Own Life
The Mishkan, the sacred dwelling place of God in the desert, was not just an assembly of gold, silver, and wood. It was built with commitment, generosity, and intention. It transformed the ordinary into something transcendent.
Likewise, your life is filled with sacred spaces—if only you learn to see them.
Here’s how:
- Be Present – Stop looking at your watch, your phone, the next task. Engage fully in what is happening now.
- Infuse Intention – Whether you are making dinner, answering emails, or tucking your kids into bed, bring presence and meaning into each action.
- Look for the Unexpected – Moses didn’t expect a burning bush. He was just doing his job. Be open to the divine interruptions in your life.
- Elevate the Ordinary – Turn simple tasks into acts of connection, gratitude, and joy. A routine grocery trip can become an opportunity to appreciate life.
- Practice Sacred Time – Instead of rushing, slow down. Notice the beauty in a moment, the laughter of a child, the rhythm of your own breath. This is time well spent.
Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World One Moment at a Time
The Jewish mystical tradition of tikkun olam teaches that divine sparks are scattered throughout the world, embedded in ordinary, physical things. Our task is to gather them through mindful, intentional living.
Every time we recognize a burning bush moment, we participate in this sacred work. Every time we see time as holy rather than something to kill, we restore the world a little more to its divine wholeness.
Stop Killing Time—Start Living It
Instead of waiting for the real moments, the big moments, the life-changing moments, what if we embraced each moment as holy?
What if we treated the act of driving our kids to school, having coffee with a friend, cooking dinner, or even answering an email as a burning bush opportunity?
Because the truth is, sacred moments are not rare. They are everywhere.
The question is: Are you paying attention?
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