I just want to run away!

Have you ever just wanted to pack up your things and fun away? Of course, by running away, you wouldn't tell anyone WHERE you are going, so no one would know where to find you! Solitude!!! Freedom!!! Peace!!! Quiet!!! No schedule to keep! No one to answer to! No one to take care of! Sound heavenly??? I probably "threaten" to run away at least 3-7 times per year. These are random times. They connect only with the stress or discouraging times in my life. Of course, I DO have more than 3-7 times of stress and discouraging times in my life per year! I just don't verbally let most people know about them. In high school, I had a guidance counselor who called me "Susie Sunshine" because I always tried to push through my days with a smile on my face. I was a "peace-keeper", something I learned at a very young age! I dislike confrontation in the worst way!!! I will avoid confrontation at all costs if at all possible. The guidance counselor noticed this and knew it wad a "mask". She once told me that I didn't need to hide behind a smile. I still haven't learned that lesson fully. That is a work in progress...as am I! Yesterday, "Susie Sunshine" wanted to run away. I wanted quiet, peace, no responsibility. I didn't want to see anyone and I didn't want anyone to see me. As always, it was not MY day to make the plans. God had a different plan...the RIGHT plan. I just needed to LISTEN! To LOOK at the things God was showing me!!! But I still wanted to run away! I wanted God to point me in the direction of the peaceful quiet I was looking for. He wasn't letting me run away!!! I had committments. People who count on me. There wasn't time for running away. I had drama practice at church. ( I am in a group at church that performs dramas/comedies on a regular basis to enhance the message. We call ourselves kaleidascope. We often joke about calling it "drama practice" because, really, WHO needs to practice more drama in their life???) Our group is giving a dinner mystery theater this weekend, and we have been squeezing in as much practice as possible. Now, I LOVE this group of women and men!!! They make me laugh until I cry!!! And it is ALWAYS when I need it. Of course there was no running away....no peaceful quietness....no solitude. Not that night! God, as always, knew what I needed!!! Always true to form, my group had me laughing to the point of tears. I was glad I hadn't run away. I was glad I confronted the lies that Satan had placed on my thoughts. I was glad I had made the commitment to my group! Will I want to run away again??? Oh, I'm sure you can count on that. And I do believe there are times when God is telling us that we need a break, and we should seek peaceful refuge WITH HIM! I'm still learning....I still have that "Susie Sunshine" mask. I'm not proud of it and I'm working on throwing that mask into the fire! The next time I feel like running away, I hope to remember to seek my peace in God. My prayer is that you will do the same. Many blessings to you all! ~Sooz