The Game of Tag and Home Base

I was in prayer the other morning and a dear friend of mine, Kathy, was praying.  She was thanking God for the small children she leads in her small group.  She was describing their play while praying and I happily drifted into sweet pictures in my heart of children playing on a playground.

I thought back to the game most played at recess in the early years of school and saw these children playing tag.  I could sweetly hear the giggles and squeals of joy as they ran around on the grass and blacktop chasing one another.

I could feel the thrill of running just fast enough to avoid the tag of the friend who was "IT" and reaching "home base" (usually a big strong tree) touching it, and shouting "SAFE!"  At that, the person who was "IT", would run away to pursue someone else and I would have a break to plan where to run next.

At this point in my prayer experience, I heard a voice inside me say, "I'm Home Base, you know."

My first reaction?  I prayed, "Huh?"

Honestly, I can be slow and stubborn, more often than not.  I usually have to ask the voice to repeat Himself.

And the voice said, "I'm THE place to run to.  I'm Home Base!"

This made me think more deeply about the concept of "home base" and playing tag.

I remembered that, once we were upper graders, we wise-in-our-own-eyes children decided that "home base" was a crutch for the slow ones. We even decided that the game would be more fun played without a "home base". We decided we needed the excitement of running after one another without a safety net.  Yes, it was much more exciting this way; yet also SO MUCH more terrifying.

I also remember the year that I quit playing.  The other kids were faster than I was; and they knew that if they tagged me, I would remain "IT" for the entire recess.  It was thrilling for them; it was defeating for me.  I switched to jump rope.

These thoughts now caused me to think about growing up and becoming adults; and how so many of us deny one another (and ourselves) the wonderful, sweet safety of "Home Base".  I hear people say things like, "That's just not reality."  Or, "Life's just not that simple."  Yet, I also hear many of these same adults long for the days of their childhood. They long for rest, a slower pace, a break.

G.K. Chesterson said, the Christian life has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.

Jesus IS Home Base.  His protection and the assurance of an eternal life, love, joy and rest in Him is EXACTLY what we need!!

When we're out there "running around" and "going after" one another, trying to be "one step ahead" of the guy who's "IT", don't we long for a place we can run to...and touch...and call, "Safe"?  Many adults hang their hopes on finding this safe rest in a vacation.  And yet, those same adults return from their vacation tired, long-faced, and even more desperate, or even defeated, desiring just to quit.

Well, I can share in complete transparent honesty that "Home Base" is Real.  "Home Base" is Necessary.  Home Base is Available. And Home Base is the Warmest, Most Wonderful place I've ever been.  I've found life, love, joy and rest in the Christian life and being Jesus' disciple.

And my trips away from the base of that Tree have become fewer and fewer.  I prefer to stay close to the Tree and listen.  I respond.  I embrace. And I rest.  And I know that death is not final for me or for any in my sweet family.  I no longer have to look over my shoulder in sheer terror, wondering when I'll be tagged next and will run around feeling completely exhausted.  I'm SAFE.  

Are you SAFE?