There are so many classic lines in the movie, “Monty Python’s In Search of the Holy Grail,” like the one shown above.  The movie consists mainly of gallows humor, but for some strange reason, I find it funny.  The fear of facing into difficult decisions, situations or simply living can stifle us in so many ways and that isn’t funny.

Many of us find it easier to run away from danger than to face it.  Some of us simply don’t have the courage or the backbone to confront difficult situations.  There are those who feel that running from a tough situation is a way of not having to cope with it.  It also takes courage not to run away.

When I was a child, I ran away from home at least five times, before I was ten.  I thought that by leaving, my parents would really miss me and whatever it was that caused me to run would be resolved.  Of course I always came back after walking around the block once.  It didn’t take me long to realize that I was totally dependent on them.  It got to be a joke in a way.  “Oh, Kathy’s leaving again. Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush.”

I always thought it would be great to run away and join the circus too.  I’d dream of being a great circus star and making millions as a trapeze artist.  I have since become aware that circuses are a thing of the past and there isn’t much money involved.  In addition, I’m terrified of heights.

When I became an adult, there were times I wanted to run away – from the responsibilities of life, the financial issues, the arguments, the fear of failure, the challenges of parenting, meeting a deadline.  Life isn’t easy.  There are moments when we all feel like we want to run away.  Unfortunately we aren’t always taught how to cope with the obstacles that we might run into.

Now that I’m in my “senior” years, I wish I could retreat to my youth.   I wish I had done things differently and I didn’t have to face a life of depending on others or failing health.  The truth is we can’t run away from life.  There will be difficulties.  There will be pain. Things won’t always go as we want them to.

Psalm 139:7-10 shows us that we can’t run away from our Creator.

” Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?
 If  I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” 

Realizing that God is with us in every aspect of our lives might frighten us.  When we become aware of what’s going on inside of us, we soon realize we aren’t living upright lives.  We aren’t following His commandments.  We aren’t living up to God’s expectations?  We can’t fulfill God’s expectations for our lives alone.

God as our judge, but He’s also the One who provides perfect justice, even though we don’t deserve it.  He gave the greatest gift to all men when He sacrificed His own Son for the redemption of us all.  The words of this Psalm show us that God is also our protection.

Don’t run away from Him.  Run to Him!