Scripture

Oh, that I could go away and forget my people and live in a travelers’ shack in the desert.

~Jeremiah

Quote

“In every trial, God is whispering, ‘Come closer,’ inviting us to find our refuge in His unfailing love.”

~Source Unknown {AI chatbox}

First of all, let me say that some situations are horrible and any escape from them would be the right thing. I read about a little girls who was being sexually abused by an uncle who lived in the same house. She learned to focus on a certain spot on the ceiling. That spot helped her visualize something that was imaginary. I am not about to tell you that escape is always wrong. Sometimes it is the only way we can cop with an unpleasant situation. Children excel in the use of the imagination. I do not think this is learned; I think it is instinctive. Too much reality too soon can scar a child’s mind. Let them be children.

The flip side is that we cannot continue to act like children. We have to grow up and face reality. Some refuse to do this and live a life of irresponsibility. They always have an out; always an excuse for why they can’t be involved or committed. I have heard people say, “I just can’t visit retirement homes, it is too depressing.” Do you think it is exhilarating for me? Is it possible for you to end up in one of these homes someday? What if no one comes to see you? We all are tempted to escape into our own little imaginary world where everything is perfect, but we cannot live there. We all need some escape and this is why God created recreation but we can recreate all the time. To do so robs recreation of its meaning. If you love to hunt, golf, fish, mow lawns, bake cakes, shop, or do something for others; something that you are passionate about–this is a good thing unless you abuse it. You can’t shop and hunt all the time. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy but all play and no work makes him useless.

In the old days, softball and basketball {church league stuff} was an escape for me. I had four hungry kids and no crop in the field. I had 600 hundred church members and about a third of them unhappy with me. I had more bills than I had income, but out in left field, I was in another world. No more ball playing for me; today I have a garden, a yard, an occassional good movie and jigsaw puzzles {my winter sport}. Sorry to disappoint you, but I can’t think theology twenty-four-seven. My mind, feeble as it is, has to have a break. But neither will my conscience allow me to escape all the time.