Playing Possum

Last night, Zoe, our English Springer Spaniel, notified us of backyard marsupials that had invaded her personal territory, otherwise known as Zoe's backyard. We weren't surprised at what we found.

Just last week, Zoe had also given a similar alert, that time, in the middle of the night. That night, Ben went out to find an over-sized momma possum sitting on top of the fence. It was, WAIT FOR IT- playing possum. She couldn't seem to make a decision about which way to go, so she did nothing.

Possums tend to be peaceful creatures that avoid confrontation at all costs. They tend to avoid a fight if at all possible. Possums, when fearing imminent attack, will "play dead." The stress of the confrontation facing the possum causes him to go into shock.

I think we humans can often find ourselves playing possum. What might that look like? We avoid conflict. We retreat from anything that smells like confrontation. We act like everything's all right, even though everything's not all right. We. Play. Possum. We may fool people around us for some time, but we can't fool God.

God sees everything. With God, there is no playing possum. You can't pretend with him. God is in all places at all times. We can never hide from His presence. He is omnipresent.

If you feel that God is distant from you, perhaps you're the one who moved. Often, our view of God is shaped way back in childhood. Church experiences that left us questioning God. Christian people acting un-Christian. Bad things that happened that left you doubting God exists. Please know that no matter how you treat or view God, His love for you remains. He longs for a relationship with you.

I urge you to get off the fence. Get to know the God. He knows all, even if you've tried to hide from Him. As you start your day, consider these verses from God's Word:

"For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps." Job 34:21

"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:7-10

"Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far way? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:23-24

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.