“Ready or not, here I come!” Remember that? I am sure most of you out there played ‘Hide-and-Seek’ at some point in your childhood. As children, we loved to find the most difficult places, making it hard for someone to find us. It was all fun and exciting when someone found us. Sometimes we hid so well that we had to come out of hiding because the person had given up looking for us. There were squeals of laughter, and then, who would be IT next!
Now that we are adults, are we still playing hide-and-seek? Could it be that there is more hiding than seeking? I’ve been thinking about this and was wondering what some of the things we hide from others are. My guess is we hide things not because we want to be dishonest, but because of protection, fear, or a learned habit. We may hide the fact that we are lonely, suffer from anxiety, have financial struggles, wounds from the past, failures and regrets, or even unfulfilled dreams. Perhaps what we hide often reveals what we need most: the need to be accepted for who we are, to heal some deep wounds, or to make connections.
We can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. How do I fit in? Anxiety brings with it the stigma of mental illness; who wants to deal with that? The thought of being irresponsible and foolish can lead to hiding money issues; it can be embarrassing. Childhood can leave some with great wounds or failed relationships; no one wants to appear weak or reopen things they have hidden for years. Failures or unfulfilled dreams could be seen as not making the cut; no one wants to risk not being respected by others. I see in all this a real desire to be accepted and loved for who you really are.
Who or what do we seek so we can be found? Without being repetitive, we know the answer - it’s trust in Jesus. Life has its challenges, and the one constant I know of is God’s love for us, never leaving our side. God is with us while we hide and right there when we seek. Perhaps what we are seeking may be part of our challenge. No matter what, seeking to be the best version of ourselves is still the way to go. This path leads to the peace, joy, and love we are all seeking.
So, this week, think about the game and the things you may still be hiding, and reflect on who and what you need to seek to find all that God has planned for you. Stop, be quiet, and know that God is always with you, no matter what.
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
