ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

There are times we just want to hide from everyone and everything. We retreat to a room, a park, a forest, a closet, a beautiful scene in nature. “We want to be alone,” as Marlene Dietrich once said. She didn’t like the notoriety that came with her career as an actress. When photographers would approach her for another close up, she’d say this very thing.

The painting for today might have something hidden. Paul would often create paintings that had people, critters or things hiding somewhere within. Maybe you can fine something in this one. We can hide from the people or situations we don’t want to face. We can run to a sanctuary – a place – a closet – a forest that will shield us from others, but there is no hiding from our Creator, Omnipresent, God. He will find us even when we endeavor to go somewhere else for refuge. We’re reminded of this in the book of Hebrews 4:13 (ESV)

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Those are hefty words, which remind us of our obligation to confess our sins to God daily. Nothing is hidden from Him, but He demands that we come to Him, rather than hiding. He is our refuge, our strength, our mainstay in all situations. He loves it when we come to Him.

A hiding place where no one knows or sees or hears the truth,

A place where you can tuck away the trespasses of youth,

When hearts submit to God’s sweet call to come and be with Him,

Those sins will soon be washed away and we can dwell within,

For God is our true shelter, He loves us as we are,

When hidden in His sacrifice, we won’t stray very far,

Our sins have been forgiven, Our path has been made clear,

The Lord of Heaven saved us, with His own Son, most dear.

Don’t try to hide from Jesus, He’ll never let you go,

He loves and understands you, He dwelt with men you know,

He knows our every problem, He feels our every pain,

But through His sweet compassion, His loss was for our gain.