The Hiding Place

I left school early on Friday due to an appointment I had at 2:30. I don't like to waste time in a waiting room by simply sitting, so I like to have something to do or read. As I was rushing out the door, I stopped by Dr. Balty's classroom. He is one of our high school English teachers. I told him I needed a book to read and asked if I could grab one off his shelf. He handed me The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom and I was out the door. Because I ended up not having to wait at all, I didn't crack the book open until about 8:30 a.m. on Saturday when I was proctoring standardized tests at school. I quickly discoverd that I could not put the book down. I finished it this evening, despite the fact that I have a lot of housework and school work to do.
The Hiding Place is the true life story of Corrie Ten Boom (pictured above). She was the youngest of four children born to a watchmaker in Holland. Her life was spent serving people. During World War II when the Nazi's occupied Holland, she opened her home to Jewish people. She and her sister Betsie were never married and still lived at home with their aging father. They were in their 50's when Germany took over. Corrie was the head of an underground operation and was responsible for rescuing hundreds of Jews. In her home, she had a secret room (pictured above) built in which she could hide the people during a sudden raid. The room was behind a brick wall - a fake wall - and never discovered.
When the Nazi's did raid their home, Corrie, her three siblings, and her father were all taken into custody while all of the Jews were safely hidden and protected. Her father died 10 days after being taken into the camp. One of her sisters was released, as was a brother but he died shortly thereafter due do an illness he picked up in the camp. Betsie also died in the camp - just weeks before she would have been released. Corrie was released after spending close to 11 months in custody.
As I read the book, I found myself hating the wicked people who dealt so cruelly with thousands of innocent people. I have seen the real footage and videos of these camps. I even showed them to my U.S. History class a few years ago. I have read the books, looked at the horrific pictures, and visited the museums. Yet, this book made it all seem so much more real. I was reading the words of a woman who endured it herself. What amazed me the most was her constant love for the people who abused her. She continued to pray for them and minister to the other prisoners. She did not look out for herself. When she received two disgusting meals a day - she shared them with those who were sick. She gave up her thin blanket in the cold winter nights. She picked off the lice and fleas from those she lived with. She saved the medicine for others and gave up her soap when she hadn't had a bath in two months. Each night she spent praying for others and teaching them about the love of Christ, while she so clearly demonstrated it. It was amazing to read how God always provided her with a Bible and took care of her every need. He even gave her opportunities to share the gospel with prison guards!!! Time and again she recorded some of the awesome things God did while she was in prison - miraculous things!
Corrie's faith in Christ was astounding. It was real. It was practiced. It was evident. It has caused me to examine my own faith. How real is it? How would I react in the face of such difficulty? Would my faith withstand such hardships?
If you have never read this book - you should. It's been around for a few decades, I'm just a little behind.
And now, with only a couple hours left of my evening, I need to do some school work, wash some clothes, unload the dishwasher, vacuum . . . But taking the day to read this book was well worth it.