What a perfect word for this week of readying ourselves as we sink into the September schedule. Three days a week preschool; grandparents newly moved from New Jersey; fall church schedule starting up. Are we ready? Definitely not … but a good refuge is “Five Minute Friday” this week.
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photo credit: photographsbypeter.com
“Ready or not, here I come!” Her call echoes through the halls of our home as she eagerly goes in search of her sister (who is likely hiding somewhere fairly obvious). Is she ready to be found? Always. Is her sister ready to seek? Definitely. In this brief interchange, there is a metaphor for relationship with the Divine. With our Creator. I think of the first “hide-and-seek” that happened in an idyllic garden. Perfectly perfect except for the sin that had just clothed Adam and Eve in shame. This time when God comes seeking them for their afternoon walk n’ talk, they hide. They do not run out to meet him, eagerly embracing the God who delights in them as his own image-bearers.
And ever since then, we too have been hiding. Hiding because we never feel ready. I was not ready to leave home for college in the Midwest; I certainly was not ready to be married or to parent twins or for my first counseling client. I am not ready for God to find me as I am. I need to clean up this corner; hide and straighten things out a bit. Smooth over the angry wrinkle in my heart; ameliorate the impatience; cleanse out those dirty stains.
God comes though, and he calls out gently, lovingly, “Ready or not, here I come!” For I cannot clean myself up without him. He knows and sees already the shame I want to hide. He pierces it through with his presence, exposing and healing and restoring in one fell swoop. In a great divine reversal, he makes me ready as I cry out that I am not.
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hidden glory 
Heather, what a beautiful post! It’s so true, isn’t it? We think we have to be more than we are before we can come before the God who created us, who delights in us just as we are. Right now. Ugliness and all. Thanks for the reminder that He always seeks us. And He accepts us. This is a great truth for me to take into my weekend. 🙂
Stopping by as your FMF neighbor!
Thanks for your encouragement, Jeanne! My challenge is always this – to believe that I am loved as I am. Ready for relationship with God because of His work, not mine. May we live into this more and more!!
Beautiful post! I sometimes even amaze myself with how I try to hide those dark corners from a God who sheds light in every single shadow. Such a blessing to know that His lens is filtered with grace and yes, He heals and restores. The unforced rhythms of grace…I’ve been ready for those this week (Matt. 11:28-30 MSG). So happy to find you on Five Minute Friday!
Love how you said that – “a God who sheds light in every single shadow.” Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I just read your post, too. Welcome to FMF! 🙂 Great poem.
Oh yes. I am a pro at trying to hide. This post echoes Psalm 139–where can we go from His Spirit? To where can we flee His presence?
Thank you for these words today.
One of my favorite Psalms ever. Good connection, Karly, and thanks for stopping by!
Heather,
Love your thoughts on hiding and “ready or not…”. A good reminder that God always sees us, whether we’re ready for Him or not.
Jamie, thanks for stopping by and for your words. It is comforting (and challenging/convicting) to know that God always sees us – pushes us deeper into grace, for how else can we stand before such a God?