Hide and Seek

May 4, 2008 by Pastor Dan.

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. • He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. • And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. —Mark 6:30–32

This was the title of a recent book review in the L.A. Times Book Section, on a completely different subject. But I instantly realized it described the very scope and dimensions of what prayer and contemplation are about. “Hide and seek.”

Truly, it is not child’s play. Constantly, the world closes in with its relentless noise, demands and interruptions. Twenty-first century life makes demands on us that few can actually meet without always feeling we are about to stress out or collapse with an anxiety attack, if not a full-blown nervous breakdown. If only we could hide ourselves for a while from the confrontations we must usually engage with our work, our neighbors, our homes and families, bills and stresses, then the dialogue with God might have a chance. Hide and seek.

But remember, it is not so much that we seek God, but that God seeks us. When we are quiet, we can at last hear God’s voice in our lives. When we get away from other distractions, God can receive our full attention. God’s spirit gets through to our conscience, our hearts, our wills, and gently corrects us.

It also goes without saying that the more frequently we can do this the more effective it is. For then our subconscious minds begin to look forward to the time of quietness, apart-ness and attention to God’s voice.

—Pastor Dan Hooper, Los Angeles

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