I remember the laughter and suspense of this game! For me, it was most fun when played outside in the dark. To my mother’s chagrin, we sometimes played it in the house, knocking over chairs and sending clothes to the closet floor.

The rules are simple: the players run off to hide while the seeker covers his eyes, counting to 100, and then calls out, “Ready or not, here I come!” The first hider found is the seeker in the next game, and the last one found is declared the winner.

 It’s fun to watch children play this game, and difficult not to call out hints. But when adults hide from their friends (and to some extent, we all do), it indicates a problem.

What secret embarrasses us? What behavior humiliates us? What action have we not forgiven ourselves for? What sin have we not confessed to God? What shame do we carry?

At the beginning of our hiding, friends may ask what’s wrong. They may probe or even guess, but when we stubbornly remain hidden, they take the hint and keep their distance. God is different.

God is the ultimate Seeker and relentlessly pursues us. He does not search for us with a pointing finger but with open arms. The misery we hide from others is seen by Him. It is not off-putting to Him but rouses His compassion. He longs to forgive, heal, and hold us. We need only to step out of hiding and into His embrace.

Hiding is not a game we can win, and seeking is not an activity God will abandon.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” Jesus, in Matthew 11:28.