Hide and Seek - given as a faculty devotional 05/17/10

I was blessed to grow up on a quiet street with six families who had children my exact same age. We waited for the school bus together in the morning, played together at recess, and bounded off the bus together in the afternoon. Of course, the most joyous bounding off of the school bus took place on the last day of school. That was the beginning of three long months of sleeping late, watching cartoons, and roaming through our neighborhood. We rode bikes. We caught fireflies. We reenacted scenes from Star Wars …even though some of us had never seen the movie. We had a blast … but some of the best times were playing hide and seek … especially once we were allowed to stay out after dark.

After fourth grade the old neighborhood-wide rule of “be home by the time the streetlights come on” was changed to “come in for dinner when the streetlights come on” and then you can go back out until 10:30. (I guess the parents all wanted to be able to watch the evening news and then go to bed, knowing that their chicks were all back in the nest.) So, during those couple of hours between sunset and 10:30, we would have neighborhood-wide games of hide-and-seek that were nothing short of tween madness. We could hide anywhere that was part of the participants’ parent’s properties … so long as it wasn’t actually in anybody’s house. So trees, tree houses, beds of pickup trucks, the backsides of sand piles, were all free game. My favorite part of hide and seek was being so quiet and hiding so well that when the seeker approached me, I could jump out, yelling, and scare the seeker as I made a break for base. Ahhh, good times.

So, what does this have to do with a devotional? Well, I want to encourage you to hide and seek this summer. At this time of year, it is apparent, that we all need renewal. Hide and seek is still one of the best ways to spend a summer, especially if we want renewal!!! …. But the hiding and seeking I want you to do is part of a special version of hide and seek. This time, we are going to hide from all the other distractions in our lives and we are going to seek God.

Jesus had to hide sometimes when he wanted to seek God. In Mark 1:35 we are told “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” Jesus advised his active workers to take time to hide and seek renewal. Listen to Mark 6:30-31. Keep in mind this takes place upon the return of “the twelve” when Jesus sent them out in pairs to teach and drive out demons. “The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” I know some of you can relate! … and I am certain that somewhere in your soul you know that the Holy Spirit is saying the same thing to you. Listen to the appeal of Jesus found in Matthew 11: 28-30. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” How great is that? If we will hide and seek Jesus, we will find him. On top of that, we will learn from him AND we will find rest for our souls.

This kind of hide and seek reminds me a little bit of the hide and seek Jim and I used to play with Jack when he was about three. We would play in the house and every time Jack would hide, he would go stand in the bathtub … and no matter how hard he would try to be quiet, he would giggle. There was no question of where Jack was … but … to build anticipation Jim and I would make a big deal out of going through the house, loudly announcing all of the places we were seeking but not finding, Jack. The giggling would grow louder. Finally, we would go open the bathroom door, wondering loudly “If Jack might be in the bathroom.” When we would open the door, Jack would yell “RAWR” … something he learned from his mother, I am sure … and, then he would be overcome with giggles. We all would. Those were moments of sheer delight. We were parents and a child and we were enjoying being in relationship with each other. Jack also loved playing the game in reverse … he loved coming to look for us … and he loved finding us … with, of course, a loud “RAWR.”

I may be wrong, but I think this is an illustration of one way we are supposed to become like little children … allowing ourselves to be totally enthralled in the prospect of both finding our Father and being found by our Father.

So, this summer I encourage you to become like a child and hide from your “adult” responsibilities and seek God. Enjoy Him. Love Him. Learn from Him … and be renewed.