Running Away!

It was springtime in western Oklahoma. Mother told us about Easter and how we would have new Easter shoes to church. Gene was three years old. Even then he had a ‘let’s get it done’ mindset. Mother didn’t seem ready to go to the shoe store to him, so Gene decided to go on his own. Soon Mother missed her second son and began searching. She called the post office to talk to Dad declaring Gene was missing. Jim and I played out in the fenced-in yard, and after an hour or so a car pulled up in the poplar-lined driveway. It was a neighbor who had found our baby brother. We ran to meet Gene, Mother got to the car first and hugged Gene, torn between thankfulness and exasperation. Later, we three children went to our grassy playground on the east side of the house. We looked at Gene with wide eyes, this — our baby brother left home? What happened? We were interested in his adventure.

Gene told us that he left to get his Easter shoes. He walked along the highway for a long time. Cars came and went. He never did find the store. We knew our baby brother was very brave when he told us that he put his thumb on the edge of the highway and a truck ran over it. We looked at his thumb, and didn’t understand how he had escaped serious injuries. I never did lose my admiration for my adventurous little brother.

When our children were growing up, we lived on several acres that included Coronado’s cross commemorating his early expedition across western Kansas. One day, our son, Dan climbed the hill and walked north across the field. His preparations included packing crackers and cheese in a kerchief. He tried tying it on a pole, but it didn’t work. Before he left, Dan told his Dad that he was going to Texas. After being gone for several hours, Dan’s Dad drove up to where he was walking and asked if he wanted a ride home. The crackers and cheese disappeared long before and the sun was close to setting. Dan considered his options and accepted the ride and came home. He didn’t make it to Texas. Our son, Paul, also ran away. He packed several sandwiches, and headed toward Coronado’s Cross. Since he was hungry, he sat down and ate his sandwiches and decided to come back. Anna also decided to run away, but didn’t want to cause any turmoil, so she ‘ran’ to the front porch and sang, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.”

Tim never wanted to run away… he wrote, “I had everything I wanted, workshop in the basement, lots of electrical things to play with (and made Dad irritated when I’d use them), electric trains and food. Mostly all I wanted to do was to tinker in the basement and be left alone. So I was happy. I’d probably still be there but you guys moved and sold the house.” (I guess we ‘ran away’ from him when we moved to Arkansas).

Running away has many connotations. One 6th grade student left my classroom, saying that he couldn’t take it anymore. He ran home. Sometimes we run away from our responsibilities, sometimes it is a situation we are caught in that causes the flight syndrome. We don’t always have to physically remove ourselves to ‘run away’. We run away when we block memories or responsibilities in our minds. We harden our hearts to emotions that hurt. We hide our thoughts and our motivations to protect ourselves from our perceived enemies. We close ourselves in like a clam in a shell.

As a teacher I learned that students have their own perceptions and understandings of what is taught or said. I could not always see the thought processes of my students for their faces looked at me and seemingly attended what was being taught; but sometimes, their minds did mental somersaults that turned the information inside out.

Jonah ran away. He ran away from God’s bidding to go to Ninevah. He bought a fare on a ship and sailed away. When a storm came up and tossed the ship about on the waves, those on the ship wanted the calm to return. They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Since they knew Whom Jonah worshiped, they asked how to make the sea calm again. Jonah replied, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea.” The sea grew calm again. A great fish, provided by God, swallowed Jonah.

From the depth of the ocean came prayers from the depth of Jonah’s heart for deliverance. Lack of obedience brought a watery burial in the belly of the great fish. After three days, God caused the great fish to deliver Jonah onto dry land. Again God commanded Jonah to go to Ninevah to preach repentance. This time Jonah obeyed. Because Jonah obeyed, the people of Ninevah repented and were not destroyed.

What did Jonah learn about running away? What can we learn from our experiences, or others’, of running away? We can learn as the prodigal son learned when he ran away, that the return can be filled with joy.

If we have run away from God in hesitation or avoidance, God’s arms are open wide…and we will hear the words….”Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.” (Luke 15:22-24 – The Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! (Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message)

Comments? eacombs@gmail.com