“In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me, ‘Flee like a bird to mountains?’”  Psalm 11:1

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”  Hebrews 10:35

When I was a very young girl, in a fit of jealousy, I lashed out at my sister (1 ½ years older than myself) and visibly hurt her.  My parents were never physically harsh with us so perhaps I was terrified that I had hurt my sister and worried for her, or shocked by my own behavior.  Whatever the emotion, I did the first thing I could do … hide under the bed, the nearest bed, my parents’ bed.  How long could that last??  Not very.  Soon my mother gently coaxed me out from hiding, brought us together and restored sisterly, family peace. Likely appalled older siblings felt I got by with something again, “babied” by a kind, forgiving mother.

We still hide from bad behavior; and bad news; and the discomfort of others’ misfortunes.  We crawl under a pile of work, a busy schedule, self-indulgences, to hide from troubling thoughts and feelings.  We hide our eyes from the afflictions of others with indifference and ignorance.  

God gave us life with the capacity to love; though some back away, afraid to be hurt.  God gave us a beautiful planet to sustain us; but we ignore her limitations and misuse her resources.  God claims all as his children, made in his image; yet we judge others as unworthy.  Yet after all our misdeeds – or “undeeds” – God “babies” us, as a loving parent, forgiving us when we don’t deserve to be forgiven, coaxing us back into his grace.

“Where can I go from your Spirit?   Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”  (Psalm 139:7-10)

Amen 

Verla Olson

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party