Peek-A-Boo

What loving parent has not played peek-a-boo with their child?

“Peek-a-boo!” And the parent’s hand covers her face.

Does her child feel a frisson of fear over the absentee parent? A sense of unease?

“I see you,” and the loving parent uncovers her face.

And the child laughs and giggles with delight.

What if God is playing peek-a-boo with us?

During high summer, when the elderberry bushes around our yard burgeon, I step on our deck and notice a surprising lack of bird life, despite our two feeders. Then a large flock of sparrows emerges from our bushes and commences to eat. They were there all the time, but hiding in the foliage.

Peek-a-boo!

During winter, when the bushes are brown and seemingly lifeless, a flock of sparrows emerges, having been camouflaged perfectly by the sere and brown leaves that cling to the stems of the vines.

They also were there all the time, but hidden in the branches.

Peek-a-boo!

I have to ask myself if God gets as much pleasure out of this game as the child and parent do.

Maybe the way to please God is to engage in this childish play, seeking God’s loving countenance in all things.

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