The Fog - Hide And Seek Series

The Fog Chapter 4 - “Hide and Seek?”

Illustration: Have you ever played Hide and Seek – I have with my grandkids – Deklan is the funniest because where he hides is usually in the same place and if you listen you can hear him singing – he loves to sing – at our summer blast I put him on the ponies, and he sang the whole time around on the pony every time. How many have heard of and played - from oral tradition - the game Hide and Seek?

Background on the game hide and seek:

Hide-and-seek (sometimes known as hide-and-go-seek) is a popular children's game in which at least two players (usually at least three) conceal themselves in a set environment, to be found by one or more seekers. The game is played by one chosen player (designated as being "it") counting to a predetermined number with eyes closed while the other players hide. After reaching this number, the player who is "it" calls "Ready or not, here I come!" or "Coming, ready or not!" and then attempts to locate all concealed players.

The game can end in one of several ways. The most common way of ending is the player chosen as "it" locates all players; the player found first is the loser and is chosen to be "it" in the next game. The player found last is the winner. Another common variation has the seeker counting at "home base"; the hiders can either remain hidden or they can come out of hiding to race to home base; once they touch it, they are "safe" and cannot be tagged.

One variant is called "Sardines", in which only one person hides and the others must find him or her, hiding with him / her when they do so. The hiding places becomes progressively more cramped, like sardines in a tin. The last person to find the hiding group is the loser, and becomes the hider for the next round. A. M. Burrage calls this version of the game "Smee" in his 1931 ghost story of the same name.

The original version of the game was called apodidraskinda. A second century Greek writer named Julius Pollux mentioned the game for the first time. Then as now it was played the same with one player closing their eyes and counting while the other players hide. This game was also found in an early painting discovered at Herculaneum, dating back to about the second century. The above information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hide-and-seek.

Story of Gary Ojala – Bear!

I have shared stories of my friend Bear and I got the bad news from his daughter Jen that he has passed away mid-July – it was actually the first day we moved into our beach house in Florida. Bear helped lead me to the Lord and was there in early years to help me grow spiritually. But Bear also taught me about playing the game Hide and seek with God!

Gary and I got saved together and we grew spiritually together – he taught me a lot about being in connection with Jesus and listening to His call – He moved to Alaska about my 4th year of salvation and he wanted me to go with him to work the oil fields around Prudhoe Bay Alaska. I also went with him. He felt called to go move back to Alaska – Why? – He especially wanted to witness to all the Vietnam Veterans living remotely in that region – he said they are all hiding out in the bush, and they are filled with guilt, shame, and rejection and remorse. He told me how they are wounded and hiding from God and others over Vietnam and war. I am going up there to show them that Jesus is seeking them out! He was passionate about this call! I did not feel called to go – AI wanted to go – But the Holy Spirit told me to stay at Outreach – I struggled with not going – I always wondered how different my life would have been if I went - But I knew I was called where I was, and Bear was called to follow his call to Alaska.

His Bio: Gary Ojala “Bear” entered the military in 1968, when he volunteered for Vietnam. During his time overseas, Gary received numerous awards, citations, and commendations including:

National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, 2 Vietnam Commendation Medals, Overseas Service Bars, 3 Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Commemorative Medal with Palms, 2 Good Conduct Medals, he was a Sharp Shooter (sniper) and Bronze Star Recipient for his valor. After his stint in Vietnam and Missouri, he ended his career in Alaska in 1977.

I met Gary on a construction site in MPLS - Mn in 1979 – we hit if off and became close hunting, fishing, and drinking buddies. Bear is in heaven now but he left a great impression on my life and heart.