The Hiding Place (04/09)

One can literally not escape school without learning of the plights of individuals and groups in World War II and the Holocaust. Personally I think that is fair enough. Years ago now I chose to attend a Holocaust Memorial workshop, at my school, where survivors told their stories, answered questions and shared their scars. Some through their eyes as they spoke, one through a camp number tattooed on her arm, another by rolling up his trousers to reveal a prosthetic leg. It’s so easy to forget those that weren’t targeted, and more shockingly, the people that formed a resistance; putting themselves, by choice, into the ‘target zone’. The family Ten Boom were those kind of people. Their family house, where they hid Jews, above their watch shop in Haarlem still stands today so I went to visit, taking advantage of the free guided tour to hear more about their remarkable story. Here are some of my thoughts...

Harmony: At a time where society was fragmenting the family, devoted Christians, still beckoned Jews into their home to live with mutual respect and understanding. They read only from the Old Testament in their evenings together and respected their fellows Sabbath when it came to their household chores. That’s how it should be.    

The 'hiding place'

Luxury: The size of the ‘hiding place’ behind Corrie’s cupboard and a false wall, where the Jews or members of the Resistance in the house at the time would run to at the sound of the alarm, was unbelievably small. When the house was raided and the family arrested 6 people stayed there for 48hrs! Fortunately not discovered, 4 of them survived the war. We have so much space that we waste and so much freedom we choose not to cherish.

Hope: When given the option, as an elderly man, to die in his own bed rather than be arrested Corrie’s father responded "If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door to anyone who knocks for help”. We are all called to shine God's light in the darkness. His words reminded me of a poem by Martin Niemöller and the idea that we are all designed to live in in this world together not alone.

Forgiveness: Surviving the war Corrie set up a home for the mentally scarred in Holland, as envisioned by her sister Betsie, and later even in Germany! She went to many conferences to share her story and God’s word. At a conference in Germany she was greeted by a born-again guard from Ravensbrück, where her sister was especially maltreated before her death. She shook his hand and with the help of God forgave him. I'm not sure how many of us could do that.

We have so much to learn from these people. The next book I'm reading is The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.