Prisoners of Hope, Return to Base

Schoolyard memories of tag echo in the words of an Old Testament prophet speaking a word of encouragement. They’re the words I needed to read today.

Did any of you all ever play tag as kids?

The thing I remember most about playing tag when I was kid was the concept of “base.” I don’t remember the first time I saw it, but once I saw it in practice, I never forgot it. If you’re playing tag, no matter what variety — and we played many varieties, freeze tag, TV tag, music tag, etc. — base was the place where, as long you were touching it, you could no longer be tagged as “it.”

One of many different kinds of “base” I experienced during childhood.

For a kid like me who was neither swift nor strong, keeping strategically close to base was the only way that I could play the game without being tagged all the time. It was one of the first places where I could understand the concept of sanctuary. As long as I’m on base, I’m good. And God help you if you tried to tag me while I was on base, because I would let you know about it.

“Hey! I’m on base! YOU CAN’T TAG ME HERE! IT DOESN’T COUNT!!!”

This childhood memory came back to me as I encountered this verse from the Old Testament: