"Where are you?"

We all know what it's like to feel ashamed, alone, or even abandoned. We want so desperately to be known and to be loved, but it feels like all that's out there is empty...or gone. It'd be nice in those dark times to turn to God and receive a big hug (or handshake if you're a non-hugger). So often we walk through this life asking God, "Where are you?"

The book of Genesis addresses this issue, but it has a radically different take. When adam (which means human) and his wife take of the tree of good and evil, they realize shame. They flee and hide for the night. But before night can fully set, God comes looking for them, but God cannot see them. They have hidden themselves.

Next comes something so profound, it takes my breath away.

God says, "Where are you?"

Vayaqra Adonai Elohim el-ha'adam vayomer lo aneka?

"So the LORD God called out to the human, 'Where are you?'"

The question turns our world upside down. The God of all the universe crying out, "Where are you?" In his shame and guilt and fear, Adam hid. He hid from God and tried to avoid being found. It wasn't God who was absent...it was Adam...the Human.

The story of Adam and Eve is our story. We are Adam for we are 'Human.' C.S. Lewis' Narnia books rightly call us "Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve." This story is our story. When Adam hides, we see ourselves, hiding from God. Hiding from each other. We too hide. We hide behind our power, our toys, even our humor and anger; yet, we are still humans, naked, hiding, afraid to be found out for who we really are.

This is why God's question is so profound: God seeks us. For all of human history, God has been calling out, "Where are you?" Our Creator is the greatest lover of our lives: The same image is present in the Song of Songs as the lover dreams she can't find her beloved. She cries out for him, but he is hidden. God wants so desperately to find us. God loves us regardless of who we are or what we've done or where we've been. God wants to be with you to love you.

Where is God? Where are we!?! God is crying out for us, calling to us, ready to cover our shame and offer us a new start to life. God loves you, and He is desperately calling out, "Where are you?"