MEMORY WRITING BRINGS BENEFICIAL EXPOSURE

Out of my memory writing workshop grew two new writing groups, “Tapping Our Roots” and “Memory Caretakers.” We’re learning, laughing, crying, and finding emotional liberation. We’re viewing our past from the perspective of a new time. Try it! Grab a notebook or journal and start recording snippets of your life. Show through your words how your mom’s special casserole tasted, how your brother’s teasing brought angry heat to your face, how the horsehair car seat felt on your bare legs in the hot summer. Memories are meant to be preserved, even as they were throughout the Bible.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES  by Sally Bair

Hiding Places

Mrs. Wily Coyote can’t resist the scraps in my compost pile. She comes often, sneaking behind one tree or shrub after another to avoid detection and harm.

Sometimes we act like Mrs. Wily, trying to hide from situations and people we’d like to avoid. Besides the fear of harm or change, there are many other ways we hide ourselves from detection. 

The abused or mistreated person might escape through alcohol, drugs, perverse habits, or fantasy. A father may hide behind his pride in the belief that he can pull himself up by his bootstraps and everyone else should, too. A child handicapped in some way may hide behind his fear and loneliness by bullying others.

The deceptive hide behind their lies. “I didn’t do it,” they say. “It’s not my fault.” Many take little or no responsibility for their actions and constantly complain.

Many people try to hide from God, too. The Bible is filled with examples. Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden after they disobeyed Him. Jonah tried to hide on a ship sailing to Tarshish because of his fear of the evil people in Ninevah, where God sent him. David hid from his sin of adultery by committing murder. 

Some people hide behind false teachings and others hide behind their fear of God. They choose to believe only the biblical passages that appeal to them. Still others hide behind time and their good health, believing that will keep them alive until they feel ready to deal with the issue of their inevitable demise.

“There is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” (Matthew 10:26) God knows all and sees all. Just as I saw the coyote coming even though she tried to hide, in the same way we can’t hide from God.

The hiding issue has another side, however. God provides Himself as our hiding place when we are in trouble. We don’t have to fear anyone or anything. Psalm 139 is a hymn of great promise. It tells us that God is with us always. “You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” (verses 5-6)
Lord, we want to be open and transparent with You so we will have no reason to try to hide from Your presence. Thank You for promising to be our hiding place when we face troubles so we can have Your perfect peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.