Chapter One
Jenny's Story * * *
Jenny's story is a fictional tale that illustrates the reality of hiding. We
all hide in various ways. So, in this overview of Jenny's life, consider
how you (or someone you know) may be a lot like Jenny.
Young Jenny's life was full of joy and comfort. She felt loved and secure
until war broke out and her defeated country was occupied by enemy forces.
Only a few days after the occupation, she saw several men crash through
the front door of her home. "Run, Jenny! Run to the Deep Woods!" her father
cried out. Looking back, Jenny saw the men drag her parents toward a big
black car and shove them into the back seat.
At first Jenny thought the occupying soldiers were friends. After all, they
had military uniforms much like Officer Josef's police uniform. When
has someone looked like a friend to you but eventually proved otherwise?
When has someone cried out to you in warning (figuratively speaking),"Run to the Deep Woods"-or when have you chosen this option on your
own? Briefly describe the dangerous circumstances you were leaving
behind.
THE HAVEN OF THE DEEP WOODS (PAGE 18)
The Deep Woods had always been Jenny's friend; now it was her only
safe place. So she made the Woods her home.
If you have settled into the Deep Woods, what memories remind you of
a less isolated life?
What fears and/or confusion keep you choosing to stay hidden in your
Deep Woods?
LEARNING TO LIVE ALONE (PAGE 19)
Fear and loneliness became Jenny's constant companions. She hated
being alone, but she was more afraid of exposure, especially to the men in
uniform. The Woods were her safety; her memories kept her going as she made
a place for herself in the forest.
But something was different inside the little girl's heart. Her heart had
been broken, and it did not mend while she was busy learning how to
live in the forest. When, if ever, have you been aware of your heart-the
part of you that once trusted and could make relational connections-becoming
still and quiet, dull and painfully empty?
What situations in life (if any) make you, like Jenny, feel inadequate to
solve a problem or make a decision? Whose advice or past presence in your
life offers you some encouragement or even direction in those situations?
When is your aloneness in your own Deep Woods especially troublesome?
TERROR STRIKES AGAIN (PAGE 21)
When the four uniformed soldiers tried to catch her, Jenny plunged into
deep, almost impenetrable brush. The soldiers ran right past her hidden path,
and Jenny was safe.
When, if ever, has your knowledge of your Deep Woods enabled you to
protect yourself from further danger or harm? Be as specific as possible.
TROUBLING CONVERSATIONS (PAGE 22)
To make her day a little more interesting and a little less lonely, Jenny
conjured up two imaginary friends: Big Jenny and Little Jenny. She repeated
one of their conversations over and over again. It was a discussion of the very
important question Why am I here?
What conclusion is Little Jenny making about why she is in the Deep
Woods?
What, if anything, have you wrongly suggested to yourself about why you
find yourself hiding in your Deep Woods?
ANOTHER CHASE (PAGE 23)
One afternoon another group of uniformed soldiers spotted Jenny and
began running after her. Once again she escaped and hid too far away to hear
them talk about their turning away the enemy and coming, according to her
parents' wishes, to find Jenny and bring her home.
Who might you have mistaken for an enemy-or who in your life right now
might be a friend rather than an enemy?
What similarities to past enemies (appearance, behavior) do you see in
those who might be friends that keep you running and hiding from them?
JENNY'S SAFETY IN HIDING (PAGE 25)
By now Jenny had learned how to keep her life orderly and safe in the
Deep Woods. She also noticed that, with each day, she felt less and less that
she needed her old relationships. Emotions she had experienced before-love,
tenderness, joy, and even terror, panic, rage, and sadness-were becoming
more and more faint.
Jenny's routine included all kinds of rules, even for little things. These
rules helped give her a sense of control over her life. Does your life have
lots of rules? Give a few examples.
When, if ever, have you found strength in your sense of competency? In
such a moment, what, if anything, have you noticed about your emotions
or lack of emotions? What has happened (or is happening) to your heart
as you have mastered surviving in the Deep Woods?
RESCUED FROM HIDING (PAGE 26)
On the twentieth day in a row, a uniformed man called out, "Jenny! Jenny!
Where are you?" Still Jenny hid-until one day when he sat down and, for
about an hour, called her name every few minutes. After Day 30, Jenny
decided to take a small risk. She crept near the soldier, coughed to get his
attention, and then vaguely recognized the face that turned toward her as her
old friend Josef.
Having come to take her home, Josef told Jenny that her parents had sent
him to find her. When, if ever, have you felt, as Jenny did, the conflict
between wanting to be in relationship again and being afraid to leave your
Deep Woods? What did you choose-to leave the Woods or to stay?
Who in your life, if anyone, might be able to lead you out of the Woods?What will it take you to, figuratively speaking, grab that person's hand just
as Jenny grabbed Officer Josef's?
Coming Out of Hiding
1. Summarize what you have seen about how you and Jenny are similar.
What hurtful experience led you into hiding? What places, behaviors, and
habits have become your haven? What rules have you developed to give
yourself a sense of control over your life? What changes in your
perspective on the past and in your emotions have you noticed since going
into hiding?
2. Think back to your own childhood and write down some of your memories.
When were you happiest? What were you afraid of and why? Which
relationships offered security? Which were tenuous? What did you learn
about trust? Are you, today, needing to learn to trust again? What safe
person (an "Officer Josef") might help you do that?
3. Spend a few minutes talking to God about how you, like Jenny, are hiding.
This may be difficult if you are hiding from God. If that's the case, be
honest about your struggle to pray and about how distant he seems.
Ask God to be with you as you continue this study and to enable you
to come out of hiding.
Continues.
Chapter One
Jenny's Story * * *
Jenny's story is a fictional tale that illustrates the reality of hiding. We
all hide in various ways. So, in this overview of Jenny's life, consider
how you (or someone you know) may be a lot like Jenny.
Young Jenny's life was full of joy and comfort. She felt loved and secure
until war broke out and her defeated country was occupied by enemy forces.
Only a few days after the occupation, she saw several men crash through
the front door of her home. "Run, Jenny! Run to the Deep Woods!" her father
cried out. Looking back, Jenny saw the men drag her parents toward a big
black car and shove them into the back seat.
At first Jenny thought the occupying soldiers were friends. After all, they
had military uniforms much like Officer Josef's police uniform. When
has someone looked like a friend to you but eventually proved otherwise?
When has someone cried out to you in warning (figuratively speaking),"Run to the Deep Woods"-or when have you chosen this option on your
own? Briefly describe the dangerous circumstances you were leaving
behind.
THE HAVEN OF THE DEEP WOODS (PAGE 18)
The Deep Woods had always been Jenny's friend; now it was her only
safe place. So she made the Woods her home.
If you have settled into the Deep Woods, what memories remind you of
a less isolated life?
What fears and/or confusion keep you choosing to stay hidden in your
Deep Woods?
LEARNING TO LIVE ALONE (PAGE 19)
Fear and loneliness became Jenny's constant companions. She hated
being alone, but she was more afraid of exposure, especially to the men in
uniform. The Woods were her safety; her memories kept her going as she made
a place for herself in the forest.
But something was different inside the little girl's heart. Her heart had
been broken, and it did not mend while she was busy learning how to
live in the forest. When, if ever, have you been aware of your heart-the
part of you that once trusted and could make relational connections-becoming
still and quiet, dull and painfully empty?
What situations in life (if any) make you, like Jenny, feel inadequate to
solve a problem or make a decision? Whose advice or past presence in your
life offers you some encouragement or even direction in those situations?
When is your aloneness in your own Deep Woods especially troublesome?
TERROR STRIKES AGAIN (PAGE 21)
When the four uniformed soldiers tried to catch her, Jenny plunged into
deep, almost impenetrable brush. The soldiers ran right past her hidden path,
and Jenny was safe.
When, if ever, has your knowledge of your Deep Woods enabled you to
protect yourself from further danger or harm? Be as specific as possible.
TROUBLING CONVERSATIONS (PAGE 22)
To make her day a little more interesting and a little less lonely, Jenny
conjured up two imaginary friends: Big Jenny and Little Jenny. She repeated
one of their conversations over and over again. It was a discussion of the very
important question Why am I here?
What conclusion is Little Jenny making about why she is in the Deep
Woods?
What, if anything, have you wrongly suggested to yourself about why you
find yourself hiding in your Deep Woods?
ANOTHER CHASE (PAGE 23)
One afternoon another group of uniformed soldiers spotted Jenny and
began running after her. Once again she escaped and hid too far away to hear
them talk about their turning away the enemy and coming, according to her
parents' wishes, to find Jenny and bring her home.
Who might you have mistaken for an enemy-or who in your life right now
might be a friend rather than an enemy?
What similarities to past enemies (appearance, behavior) do you see in
those who might be friends that keep you running and hiding from them?
JENNY'S SAFETY IN HIDING (PAGE 25)
By now Jenny had learned how to keep her life orderly and safe in the
Deep Woods. She also noticed that, with each day, she felt less and less that
she needed her old relationships. Emotions she had experienced before-love,
tenderness, joy, and even terror, panic, rage, and sadness-were becoming
more and more faint.
Jenny's routine included all kinds of rules, even for little things. These
rules helped give her a sense of control over her life. Does your life have
lots of rules? Give a few examples.
When, if ever, have you found strength in your sense of competency? In
such a moment, what, if anything, have you noticed about your emotions
or lack of emotions? What has happened (or is happening) to your heart
as you have mastered surviving in the Deep Woods?
RESCUED FROM HIDING (PAGE 26)
On the twentieth day in a row, a uniformed man called out, "Jenny! Jenny!
Where are you?" Still Jenny hid-until one day when he sat down and, for
about an hour, called her name every few minutes. After Day 30, Jenny
decided to take a small risk. She crept near the soldier, coughed to get his
attention, and then vaguely recognized the face that turned toward her as her
old friend Josef.
Having come to take her home, Josef told Jenny that her parents had sent
him to find her. When, if ever, have you felt, as Jenny did, the conflict
between wanting to be in relationship again and being afraid to leave your
Deep Woods? What did you choose-to leave the Woods or to stay?
Who in your life, if anyone, might be able to lead you out of the Woods?What will it take you to, figuratively speaking, grab that person's hand just
as Jenny grabbed Officer Josef's?
Coming Out of Hiding
1. Summarize what you have seen about how you and Jenny are similar.
What hurtful experience led you into hiding? What places, behaviors, and
habits have become your haven? What rules have you developed to give
yourself a sense of control over your life? What changes in your
perspective on the past and in your emotions have you noticed since going
into hiding?
2. Think back to your own childhood and write down some of your memories.
When were you happiest? What were you afraid of and why? Which
relationships offered security? Which were tenuous? What did you learn
about trust? Are you, today, needing to learn to trust again? What safe
person (an "Officer Josef") might help you do that?
3. Spend a few minutes talking to God about how you, like Jenny, are hiding.
This may be difficult if you are hiding from God. If that's the case, be
honest about your struggle to pray and about how distant he seems.
Ask God to be with you as you continue this study and to enable you
to come out of hiding.
(Continues.)
