The Hiding Place

I just finished reading "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. This story of a family from Holland that hid Jews during the German occupation was incredible. The faith they lived out makes me jealous and introspective. My life looks cushy and boring in comparison. I don't wish their hardships on my life. But I am jealous of their wild adventure with the Savior.

One of my favorite quotes from the book: "I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work he will give us to do."

The saddest story in the book is when the ten Boom family asks a local pastor to care for a Jewish baby that just arrived at their home. Corrie picks up the story as she pulls back the covers so this pastor can see the baby: "There was a long silence. The man bent forward, his hand in spite of himself reaching for the tiny fist curled around the blanket. For a moment I saw compassion and fear struggle in his face. Then he straightened. 'No. Definitely not. We could lose our lives for that Jewish child!'"

Oh my, this guy probably missed the adventure of a lifetime. And didn't a Jewish child lose His life for this pastor already? Hmmm.................

One lesson Corrie learned from her sister Betsie: to give thanks in all circumstances. When the sisters arrived in Ravensbruck concentration camp they soon discovered their barracks and straw bedding were flea infested. Betsie insisted they could give thanks even for fleas. I read this thinking, as the author did also, that there is no possible way God can use fleas for anything positive. And as I write this there is a verse that comes to mind that goes something like "my thoughts are higher than your thoughts; my ways higher than your ways" ...........or something close. And months later Corrie writes that she never could understand the freedom her and the ladies of Barracks 28 had while on knitting duty. You see, the German guards and officers NEVER entered this area. Why? The fleas! And while the knitters of Barracks 28 worked, the ten Boom sisters were able to read to the others from the bible they managed to smuggle in. And light shined in the darkest of places.

So you may assume, as I did, that "The Hiding Place" is where Corrie ten Boom and her family hid and cared for Jews. A physical place.

You would be wrong.

Read the book and find out what the real hiding place is.

a person of influence

I wanted to encourage any readers of my blog (okay, both of you) to read this one as well:

www.kathleenfinley.blogspot.com

Kathleen is a high school student that is a great writer, an aspiring actress, and a Jesus follower. I found her most recent blog, titled "Tom Hanks!", very interesting. She writes about how awesome it was to meet him and spend a day with him.

But I can tell you I have met someone way more interesting than Tom Hanks. I know this young lady, let's call her Kat, that is way more influential than Tom. She recently spent time in a foreign country learning about God's heart for children on the margins and the poor. And she came home different.

She writes and blogs about her experiences and life and all kinds of interesting things. She has hopes and dreams that include building the kingdom of God in her lifetime and not just about how much stuff and money she can collect. And then she went to a theatre teacher along with her sister (let's call her Liz) and stated her concern about the inappropriateness of the play the class was to learn and perform. And lo and behold the teacher................changed the play!

That's leadership! That's courage! That's influence!

So you see, I know this girl with way more influence than Tom Hanks. A young lady with the hope of Christ in her heart who not only learned from me on a mission trip, but taught me as well.

Kathleen Finley!