Sardines

 

‘Gramma, come play hide and seek!’ ‘How about a variation?’ I ask. ‘Sardines.’

There then ensued joyful mayhem. As I weaselled my way into the attic cupboard beside Ella, we stood side by side in the darkness, waiting to be found by Joel or Jamie. In her impatience to be discovered, Ella tapped lightly on the door, and Joel discovered us and squashed in, too.

More waiting. Joel couldn’t help himself. He had to whisper: Jamie found us, to much squealing and laughter.

Sometimes we can be in tight places, in dark corners or situations, harbouring mean thoughts or judgments: through our own poor choices. That’s called sin. But even in those dark places of our choice, our deepest longing is to be found, to be brought out into the light, to be changed. We might be whispering for help; we might be knocking on God’s door; we might be shouting to be discovered.

God hears. And oh, the laughter and joy when we are brought into the Light!

Lord, open the door on my pinched heart today. Flood your light into the dark corners of my thinking. Fill that empty space in me with your Holy Spirit, that I might reflect you wherever I go this day.