Hide and seek is a favorite pastime of many kids. And it seems there’s as much joy in being found as there is in finding the other. And perhaps this children’s game can teach us about the deep desires of our own hearts as well.
On the one hand, we enjoy a good quest – seeking, searching, and finally discovering what our hearts have been looking for. To be sure, we can see this in dating and pursuing the heart of our wife. But it also points to true eros in all its many different forms – the passionate desire to seek and connect with all that is true, good, and beautiful
And part of the thrill is the adventure into the unknown. The joy of hide and seek increases when the other person is good at hiding. And it’s not as fun when there’s little effort required. Likewise, there’s a part of us that still enjoys working for the things we desire rather than just having them given to us.
On the flip side, few joys compare to being found as well – for someone to desire, see, and get us on deep and personal levels. Many of our relationships remain casual at best, and even our closest relationships can still be marked by loneliness. This ache of loneliness points to our relentless desire for someone to finally find us.
While we anticipate having to wait and appreciate the efforts it takes for others to find us, hide and seek quickly loses its appeal if we’re never found. And this leaves us feeling unworthy of love and belonging and prone to shut our hearts down. It’s often easier to stop wanting altogether than to live with hope deferred for so long.
Hide and seek is not just for kids and we miss the deep movements of our heart when we pretend otherwise.
In the end, continue to diligently seek while also keeping your heart open to be found. These are twin desires to hold onto even as adults.
Photo by bady abbas on Unsplash
