Escape Rooms

My teenagers have been fascinated with these increasingly popular Escape Rooms. Admittedly, they intrigue me. I like the thought of solving cases and putting puzzles together, after all that’s why I’ve watched every episode of Monk. What I don’t like is having to find these clues and solve those mysteries in the dark!

About a year ago our family decided to do one of these escape rooms, and yes it really was a lot of fun. I’d highly recommend it for a memorable family bonding adventure. You’ll learn more about each other, who has to be in control, who can’t handle the stress, and to what lengths each of you will go to solve the clues.

The gratifying part of this experience is each time you unlock a clue, it leads to another clue, then another, and another, and well…you get the point, till you finally make your way out of a thematic “room” of your choosing. Likewise, over the past several years I’ve been on a journey of unlocking different clues in my life. A sort of quest for self-discovery and healing from unprocessed emotional wounds. From the little “t” trauma, when I burned my arm with a pot of boiling water at age 4, to the Big “T” trauma of losing my sister to a very rare and aggressive cancer as an adult. I don’t think many of us escape, (no pun intended), this life without some experience that forever reconfigures the landscape of our hearts, leaving us scarred with little and big “T’s” in our life. A common thread of suffering and pain that none of us are exempt from is the part of humanity we all get to share.

When I hit 40, maybe a little bit before, I became a voracious reader; which is pretty hilarious considering I hated reading as a teenager and even young adult. I could barely remember what I read from one page to the next so I would easily get frustrated and give up prematurely. However, when I entered this new “age bracket,” I became intentional about my personal growth and my craving was insatiable. With each book I read, with each podcast I listened to, every sermon I watched, every challenging conversation with a friend, or difficult counseling appointment I had, I felt like I was unlocking one clue after another. It was a freeing domino effect of one “ah-ha” moment after another. I’m so grateful for this awareness because I’ve learned more about myself than I thought possible. For example, I’ve discovered what my attachment style is, why I act the way I do (well to some degree at least), what enneagram number I am, what makes me resilient and how unprocessed emotions really do affect me physically and how I’ve struggled with Alexythimia (the inability to recognize or describe feelings) my whole life because of my upbringing.

During difficult seasons when I wanted God to shine a blaring spotlight on my path so I could see what was going to happen next, He ususally gave me just enough light for the step I was on. Often He didn’t give me a whole lot more than what was in front of me. I belive that was deliberate. I mean could you imagine if He gave us, upfront, ALL the keys to the escape room so we could open up every lock at once? That would kind of be anti-climactic, don’t you think? Like reading the last page of a novel before the first. Not to say I haven’t done that either…

As long as we stay curious of what’s next, always wanting to uncover the next hidden truth and chase after fresh revelation God has for us in each season, we will get to the hidden treasure if we don’t loose heart and give up. The good news is we’re not being “punked” and God doesn’t toy with our emotions, that’s not who He is. Wisdom is calling out to all of us, and there is a definite treasure to be found if we respond.

My friend I encourage you to search for your hidden treasure. You will not be disappointed. Even in the darkest of times You may not get the blaring spotlight but God will give you just enough light for the step you’re on and you will never be alone. Surprisingly, you may even find some hidden gems along the way. Now go unlock some clues!

Proverbs 2:2-11 (NLT)

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.

For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”