There are two different routes I take to school in the morning. The straight route is thirtieth street.  Thirty-first street, as you can guess, is one block over. I take thirty-first street if I'm headed to school between 7:50-7:55 A.M. The intersection at Helena and thirtieth street is swarming for that five minutes with cars who've just dropped of their elementary kiddies. 

  

Helena Ave. is buzzing in both directions.  There are the people turning off of W Chicago Ave onto Helena. Then there's the crosswalk. As soon as you pull onto thirtieth you're watching for cars from three directions and looking out for kids crossing the street on foot and bike. 

Thirty first street is a bit simpler. I avoid the madness; instead choosing a better path. I'm not just talking about in the car. 

Sometimes I avoid the news. 

I avoid HEB on Saturday

the mall in December 

telemarketers

dealing with the socks in the mismatch basket

and dusting 

These things are not bad for my health (except for HEB on Saturday). They just raise my stress level. So I run from them when I can. 

What is it famed heavyweight boxing champion Joe Lewis said?

You can run but you can't hide. 

I'm here to tell  you can run AND you can hide. You can...and you should. 

When it comes to avoiding  things, I'm a ninja level "hider". 

Hiding from people is a different story. I kind of have guilt about that. 

However, there are a few scenarios where hiding (avoiding the world) is not only ok, but is beneficial to you and the people in your life. 

• When you're running on empty. We often go until we're running on fumes. Our work suffers. Our health can suffer. We need a fill up. Hiding is rest. Rest refuels us. 

... I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Isaiah 41:10

• When your attitude is out of order. Sometimes our nice meter runs out. Our patience is gone. If we don't retreat, we run the risk of behaving regretfully. Hiding time is "Get your act back in order" time. Consider it a needful time-out. 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

 James 4:10

• When your interaction with another is unhealthy (their attitude is out of order) There are times when communication has become unproductive despite our efforts to be helpful, reasonable and calm. Recognize when stepping back for a time is necessary for the health of the relationship. 

You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. 

Psalm 31:20

• When you're not spending enough time with God  We can be conscious of God's presence as we go about our day, uttering prayer in our busyness. But the world, and the best of those in it, distract us from intimate time with God. God is worthy of our undivided attention. Daily. 

Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Luke 5:16

Avoid the busy road when necessary. Flee from trouble. Hide a while. Leave the beaten path. 

You can run and you can hide. Hide in Him. Your life, and the lives of those you love will be better for it.