By +Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka
My Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—HIDE. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. I write for five minutes on a given topic. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out our hostess, Kate Motaung’s site. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!
HIDE
Ever since our boys were little, they’ve loved to play Hide and Seek. When they were small, I’d hear, “Mama, come find me!” Of course, they were hidden from themselves, but I saw them clearly, as a foot stuck out from under a lumpy blanket.
Now that they’re older, they still like to hide from me. Tonight, one boy hid behind his bathroom door. I walked into his bathroom to fill his humidifier, and there was no Peter. But, I heard his breathing. And I saw his reflection in the mirror. At twelve, he thought the reflection gave him away.
It was what I heard first that clued me in to: 1) he was hiding, and 2) where he was. Maybe I have good hearing. Or maybe I have come to know this dear boy of mine and his penchant for “surprising” unsuspecting family members.
It got me thinking. How many times have I tried to hide from God? As if we could. Our God who sees through the darkness as if it’s light.
When I’ve failed . . .
When I’ve hurt another . . .
When I don’t think I can face my perfect Father . . . I hide.
I hide from Him in activities or in busy-ness. Or in tears.
No matter where I’m hiding, He hears my heart’s cry first. The yearning for acceptance from Him. The reassurance that it’s okay.
We make mistakes. We can know His grace. And we can move out of hiding and into deeper intimacy with Him.
What if, instead of hiding from Him, I hid in Him? What if I opened His word, or sang a worship song? It’s hard to worship when I’m busy condemning myself. But if I can remember there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, it might just be easier to hide in Him, rather than hiding from Him.
What about you? Do you have any favorite Hide and Seek memories from childhood? When have you hidden and been surprised with grace?
Vist Kate Motaung at her site Five Minute Friday: Hide
Jeanne Takenaka 