Find the Way Out!

One of the new fads in team building and just general recreation is the escape room. They seem to be popping up everywhere. I for one have not, and unless monetarily coerced (meaning my boss is making me and he/she is paying for it) will not be attending. I have zero desire to participate. I mean, isn’t life itself one big escape room? We face choices and temptations of all kinds each and every day and hopefully choose the right decision. Why do I need an enhancement on that?

I have never been really competitive. Video games are not my thing, especially the ones that are timed. In fact the only game I play (not counting Pokémon Go which I started so my grandson and I had something to do during Covid) is FreeCell. One of the things I like about it is that each game has a solution. The other plus is that I can play it at my own speed. I have decided to not let a game go until I solve it. It may mean restarting multiple times, but it helps me struggle through the process. I think my highest is 10.

So how does all this relate to real life? Like I mentioned earlier, life is a continuing series of choices. Last week I needed to get some mice for the snake in my classroom. With things being so tight in this economy, I did not want to ask for it out of the budget at home. (The school budget is just as bad.) I was amazed at the different scenarios that rambled through my head. Some were entrepreneurial; others were a mix of minor theft, embezzlement, and or other petty crimes. It’s not that I really seriously contemplated misappropriating cash from somewhere, but the thoughts were there none-the-less. As I faced and rejected each one, I remembered the verse that talks about a way of escape. I remember praying and asking for God to show me that escape route. Turns out we had a little extra money, and all I had to do was ask in the first place.

Most of us would not even think about robbing a bank (at least I hope not!). But borrowing a little from “Peter to pay Paul” might be a bigger temptation. Maybe it’s not money; maybe its food, online shopping, or little white lies. It doesn’t really matter what it is. We all have those seemingly little temptations that we face on a daily basis. The scriptures say there is a way of escape. We just have to find it.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthian 10:13