Hidden: A Valuable Lesson Borrowed from an Octopus

Octopuses: they look like walking, talking, ocean plants, with eight arms that could wrap you up in a big, squishy hug.  And can you imagine the spectacle if they could juggle?  The octopus is a fascinating creature that’s been intriguing both scientists and daydreamers for centuries.    

In our home, we all enjoy a good ocean documentary (especially if I’m needing a little break or a cat nap).  But this documentary turned into a teaching moment with my daughter, Meadow.

The octopus has three hearts, and it’s more mollusk than fish.  It’s strangely cute, a little bit creepy, and certainly curious. But it’s their uncanny ability to hide that captures interest.  They’re masters of camouflage, having an ability to blend into coral, shape-shift into seaweed, or even a beach ball.

The parallel unfolded as I explained to Meadow, as Christians, we too get to hide.  We hide in Christ.  This type of hiding is beautiful, protective, peaceful, and redemptive.  It’s never rooted in fear, but completely in love and trust. 

Meadow loved the idea.  And she’s taken a small interest in my writing lately (or perhaps the desire to influence what I write about).   Either way, when I jokingly mentioned an article on octopuses, my animal lover got excited! 

And for several weeks, she kept asking, “When are you going to write about octopuses?”. 

So, ta-da, an Octopus article it is!

Hiding in Plain Sight

What makes the octopus so special?!!

·      Remarkably smart.

·      Playful by nature.

·      Master problem solvers.

Supersmart with a playful side, nice combo.  Toss in the ability to make things work.  Bonus.     

Considered among the most intelligent invertebrates in the world, they can recognize humans, solve complex puzzles, and use tools (maybe even better than some of our husbands, was that out loud). 

Some octopuses have even been known to escape their tanks, assisting with their rightful title, “the Masters of Disguise”. 

But here’s the thing: you and I can get pretty good at hiding things too. 

Ok, so we can’t shape-shift into a vase (thankfully, that’s just weird).  But we sure have a way of masking things.  We hide our mistakes and our regrets. We hide our doubts, and our frustrations, our insecurities, and our fears.  And yes, we also hide our sin.   

Sometimes we use our creative intelligence to present only the parts of ourselves we think the world wants to see.  It’s the surface mask of, “all is well”.  But the facade grows heavy. 

‘But God’—the big picture narrative has a lighter yet deeper, unmasked, and unfading invitation, as God lovingly whispers, “Bring it, ALL of it, into my presence.  And we’ll work together.”

Hidden Treasure

In this process of transformation, we begin to hide (tucking away) even more of God’s goodness within our hearts.  We search the heart of God, praying and asking, “what should I hold onto?” and “what should I let go of?” 

Can you imagine hiding anything in your heart more worthy than God’s word?  I can’t.  It’s an amazing gift that we can allow scripture, God’s holy and sacred word, to ‘shape-shift’ us into a new creation. 

So, what are we doing every day to hide more of God’s word in our hearts?  Maybe we write a scripture verse that speaks to us and place it were we’ll see it often.  Or we devote our mornings to a good devotional.  Or we simply hold close those that speak God’s truth in us.  Our husbands and our kids will always reap the benefits of us hiding sacred scriptures and godly wisdom in our hearts. For what we inhale, we exhale.     

And God's word is an eternal treasure worth treasuring.  And as Isaiah 55:11 tells us, that His word will not return void. 

So, we come out of hiding, remembering we’re not hiding anything that God doesn’t already know about.  And with God as our compass, and Jesus our true north, we follow.  First, we hide in our hearts that which empowers us, and then we move in faith, courageously toward His masterplan. 

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:10 NLT

...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  Romans 8:37b

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:31

Asking ourselves questions and then reflecting is an excellent place to start.  So, what is in our lives that we’re trying to figure out without God?  What needs to be reconfigured in His light?  Because if it’s important in our hearts, even in the smallest way, it’s important to the heart of God.

He’s the infinite “Creator of all”.  The One that brings forth the miracle of new life.  The One that simplifies the complexity of time and seasons, with the sun, the moon, and the stars.  He created over 230,000 species living in ocean (and over 80% of the ocean is unexplored).  And He alone designed an interconnected ecosystem with over 250,000 flower species, 100,000 species of trees (that also happens to help us breathe).  All just a drop in the bucket. 

So don’t we think He can help us with the little things that we attempt to hide.  For our God is infinitely faithful.  He’s completely pure in heart.  And He’s never hiding. 

Protect and Propel

A couple years ago, our preacher, Lance, had an excellent sermon series on the book of Ester.  One thing in particular stayed with me.  Throughout the entire book of Ester, God isn’t mentioned.

Although God was never mentioned, He certainly wasn’t hiding.  He was very much there, every step of Ester’s courageous journey— loving her, guiding her, protecting her, and delivering her (and her people). 

Regarding the book of Ester, Paul David Tripp writes, “And as I have said before, this is a theme throughout all the Old Testament. God raises up unlikely instruments; He raises up this woman whom He uses to continue to protect and propel His plan for His people and His plan for the ages, His plan of redemption.”

Even when we feel like God is hiding, He’s not.  His plan continues.  So we trust Him, even in the difficult moments in which we just to hide.  We trust Him as we pray and as we continuously allow more of His word into our hearts.  Knowing that He’s protecting us, and He will propel us.  In His Way.  In His time.

A God Wink

While finishing up the last part of this article, we took a little family vacation. One afternoon while enjoying the beach scenery I FaceTimed my parents. It’s been a really hard year for them.  I thought it might be good for them to forget the world and watch the waves of the ocean. 

The rest of my crew decided to head for the pool.   I stayed on the beach and finished my call.  Then I stayed a little longer, taking my own advice.  I embraced the beauty, the solitude, and the peace of the moment.  I completed my alone time with a small prayer.  With an open heart and open hands, genuinely seeking God’s voice and direction.  

As I was peacefully leaving the beach, coming my way a little boy was flying a kite.  An octopus kite. Oh, the irony.

As the wind shifted, it came down and the string stopped me in my tracks.  I smiled at the little boy and politely moved the string (out of my hands, where it landed).  He refocused and was on his way.  

Then a couple of nights later, my husband’s aunt who was traveling with us, read the kids a bedtime devotional.  Without knowledge of my article, I listened as she read about the veined octopus, and how they use discarded coconut shells to create portable shelters, as a form of armor.  The devotion referencing our armor, “The Armor of God”.   

Anyway, it was somewhere between the octopus kite and the coconuts, that I felt a gentle reminder.  A reminder that “God is still in this story…”  

I don’t understand many things about life, but I’m not called to understand, I’m called to follow.  However, I do feel like I got the nod and the God wink on the octopus article.   

May you and I continue to hide the goodness of God in our hearts.   For what we hide in our hearts, in some way or another, is what we reveal to the world.

 

3-2-1

3 Scripture Verses

2 Quotes, and 1 Question to Consider

3 Scripture Verses: 

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:3

2 Quotes:

“God is the only person from whom you can hide nothing. Before him you will unavoidably come to see yourself in a new, unique light. Prayer, therefore, leads to a self-knowledge that is impossible to achieve any other way.”

- Timothy J. Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” - Oswald Chambers

1 Question to Consider:

More than anything else, are you hiding the love of God in your heart?  e. It’s never rooted in fear, but completely in love and trust.

Meadow loved the idea. And she’s taken a small interest in my writing lately (or

perhaps the desire to influence what I write about). Either way, when I jokingly

mentioned an article on octopuses, my animal lover got excited!

And for several weeks, she kept asking, “When are you going to write about

octopuses?”.

So, ta-da, an Octopus article it is!

Hiding in Plain Sight

What makes the octopus so special?!!

• Remarkably smart.

• Playful by nature.

• Master problem solvers.

Supersmart with a playful side, nice combo. Toss in the ability to make things

work. Bonus.

Considered among the most intelligent invertebrates in the world, they can

recognize humans, solve complex puzzles, and use tools (maybe even better

than some of our husbands, was that out loud).

Some octopuses have even been known to escape their tanks, assisting with

their rightful title, “the Masters of Disguise”.

But here’s the thing: you and I can get pretty good at hiding things too.

Ok, so we can’t shape-shift into a vase (thankfully, that’s just weird). But we

sure have a way of masking things. We hide our mistakes and our regrets. We

hide our doubts, our insecurities, and our fears. And yes, we also hide our sin.

Sometimes we use our creative intelligence to present only the parts of ourselves

we think the world wants to see. It’s the surface mask of, “all is well”. But the

facade grows heavy.

‘But God’—the big picture narrative has a lighter yet deeper, unmasked, and

unfading invitation, as God lovingly whispers, “Bring it, ALL of it, into my

presence. And we’ll work together.”

Hidden Treasure

In this process of transformation, we begin to hide (tucking away) even more of

God’s goodness within our hearts. We search the heart of God, praying and

asking, “what should I hold onto?” and “what should I let go of?”

Can you imagine hiding anything in your heart more worthy than God’s word?

I can’t. It’s an amazing gift that we can allow scripture, God’s holy and sacred word,

to ‘shape-shift’ us into a new creation.

It’s a simple reminder to act, making it a daily habit to hide more of God’s word

in our hearts. Maybe we write a scripture verse that speaks to us and place it

were we’ll see it often. Or we devote our mornings to good devotional. Or we

simply hold close those that speak God’s truth in us. Our kids will always reap

the benefits of us hiding sacred scriptures and godly wisdom in our hearts.

For His word is an eternal treasure worth treasuring. And as Isaiah 55:11 tells

us, that God’s word will not return void.

So we come out of hiding, remembering we’re not hiding anything that God

doesn’t already know about. And with God as our compass, and Jesus our true

north, we follow. First, we hide in our hearts that which empowers us, and then

we move in faith, courageously toward His masterplan.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do

the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans

8:37b

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be

against us? Romans 8:31

Asking ourselves questions and then reflecting is an excellent place to start. So,

what is in our lives that we’re trying to figure out without God? What needs to

be reconfigured in His light? Because if it’s important in our hearts, even in the

smallest way, it’s important to the heart of God.

He’s the infinite “Creator of all”. The One that brings forth the miracle of new

life. The One that simplifies the complexity of time and seasons, with the sun,

the moon, and the stars. He created over 230,000 species living in ocean (and

over 80% of the ocean is unexplored). And He alone designed an

interconnected ecosystem with over 250,000 flower species, 100,000 species of

trees (that also happens to help us breathe). All just a drop in the bucket.

So don’t we think He can help us with the little things that we attempt to hide.

For our God is infinitely faithful. He’s completely pure in heart. And He’s

never hiding.

Protect and Propel

A couple years ago, our preacher, Lance, had an excellent sermon series on the

book of Ester. One thing in particular stayed with me. Throughout the entire

book of Ester, God isn’t mentioned.

Although God was never mentioned, He certainly wasn’t hiding. He was very

much there, every step of Ester’s courageous journey— loving her, guiding her,

protecting her, and delivering her (and her people).

Regarding the book of Ester, Paul David Tripp writes, “And as I have said

before, this is a theme throughout all the Old Testament. God raises up unlikely

instruments; He raises up this woman whom He uses to continue to protect and

propel His plan for His people and His plan for the ages, His plan of

redemption.”

Even when we feel like God is hiding, He’s not. His plan continues. So we

trust Him, even in the difficult moments in which we just to hide. We trust

Him as we pray and as we continuously allow more of His word into our hearts.

Knowing that He’s protecting us, and He will propel us. In His Way. In His

time.

A God Wink

While finishing up the last part of this article, we took a little family

vacation. One afternoon while enjoying the beach scenery I FaceTimed my

parents. It’s been a really hard year for them. I thought it might be good for

them to forget the world and watch the waves of the ocean

The rest of my crew decided to head for the pool. I stayed on the beach and

finished my call. Then I stayed a little longer, taking my own advice. I

embraced the beauty, the solitude, and the peace of the moment. I completed

my alone time with a small prayer. With an open heart and open hands,

genuinely seeking God’s voice and direction.

As I was peacefully leaving the beach, coming my way a little boy was flying a

kite. An octopus kite. Oh, the irony.

As the wind shifted, it came down and the string stopped me in my tracks. I

smiled at the little boy and politely moved the string (out of my hands, where it

landed). He refocused and was on his way.

Then a couple of nights later, my husband’s aunt who was traveling with us,

read the kids a bedtime devotional. Without knowledge of my article, I listened

as she read about the veined octopus, and how they use discarded coconut shells

to create portable shelters, as a form of armor. The devotion referencing our

armor, “The Armor of God”.

Anyway, it was somewhere between the octopus kite and the coconuts, that I

felt a gentle reminder. A reminder that “God is still in this story...”

I don’t understand many things about life, but I’m not called to understand, I’m

called to follow. However, I do feel like I got the nod and the God wink on the

octopus article.

May you and I continue to hide the goodness of God in our hearts. For what

we hide in our hearts, in some way or another, is what we reveal to the world.

3-2-1

3 Scripture Verses

2 Quotes, and 1 Question to Consider

3 Scripture Verses:

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they

may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may

know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures

of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to

cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

2 Quotes:

“God is the only person from whom you can hide nothing. Before him you will

unavoidably come to see yourself in a new, unique light. Prayer, therefore, leads

to a self-knowledge that is impossible to achieve any other way.”

- Timothy J. Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not

understand at the time.” - Oswald Chambers

1 Question to Consider:

More than anything else, are you hiding the love of God in your heart?