Hide-n-Seek

     She sits excitedly...waiting, slowly counting as he runs out of sight.  1, 2, 3, 4... Her eyes pop open quickly, hoping for a glance of the direction he may have went.  No luck.  She can't see him.
9, 10! Ready or not...
        Only he is always ready.  He loves this game as much as she does.  He works hard to find the perfect hiding spot.  One that is not extremely difficult to find, but that will still require some searching. 

        He hears her little feet pitter-pattering down the hall.  Her small voice yells, "Where are you?" A part of him wants to answer back, wants to give away his location, but then he remembers her face when she, in fact, finds him on her own.  The smile on her face, the giggles, the long embrace...so he decides to wait a bit longer.  After all, he wants her to be able to find him.
        So, he waits.  Finally, he hears her getting closer.  His breathing slows, he stays completely still.  Waiting.  He finds great pleasure in this game.  Such joy watching his daughter find his newest hiding spots.  Then... "One more time, Daddy!" she says.  He smiles.  And again, he hides, waiting to be discovered again.
 
        In Ephesians 1:17-18, we learn that we were called by Jesus to experience Him.  He wants to be discovered much like in a simple game of hide-n-seek.  When we play hide-n-seek with our kids, we don't hide never to be found and we also don't immediately tell them where we are.  We could.  But we allow them to search for us because we know the joy that comes when they discover our hiding place.  It's not for our benefit, it's for the joy and what it does for them, the Searcher.  Jesus wants us to experience that joy.  And He loves us enough to allow us to search..... And the joy that comes when we discover Him, when we experience Him!  We were called to experience Him.
     Continue to look for Jesus.  Search for him.  And find joy when you discover Him, His presence, His love....deepening your intimacy with Him.