The Hiding Place

I know what you're thinking. I know- how in the world is it possible that I haven't read this book in my twenty-six years of life? And the answer: I have no idea. But I am so glad that my husband brought it home from the library several weeks ago and thus reminded me that I had not actually read the story of the ten Boom family.

This book is not by any means a large or difficult read, and so I finished this powerful short account in just a few days last week. It didn't even make it to my 'Currently Reading' list because I couldn't put the book down to do so. The ten Boom family lived in the town of Haarlem outside of Amsterdam; the family business was watch and clock repair as it had been for over one hundred years. Well-loved and respected by community members, the ten Booms led a life dedicated to the service and love of others; the family was well-known for passing out hot soup and coffee to those who wished it, as well as taking in numerous homeless children through the years.

When the German Army invaded the Netherlands in 1940, the ten Boom family began to realize the danger presented to others, specifically Jewish individuals, under the Nazi regime. Corrie ten Boom, the youngest of the ten Boom children, eventually became one of the leaders of the underground Dutch resistance, helping to weave together a network of individuals and families dedicated to helping Jewish families hide from SS and Gestapo officers. The ten Boom house, known affectionately as the Beje, served as a central place among individuals who were a part of the underground resistance; the ten Booms often took in those Jewish individuals most difficult to hide because of their strong Semitic appearance. The two ten Boom children who were married and living in different towns also took in those individuals who would have otherwise most surely perished at the hands of the Nazis.

Eventually, many members of the ten Boom family were arrested; Corrie and her sister Betsie were then sent to the Vught political concentration camp in Holland and finally transferred to Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany. It is here that her beloved sister Betsie, who had medical difficulties all her life, died shorty before Corrie was released on Christmas Day 1944. Before her death, Betsie shared with Corrie a vision of a safe place for individuals hurt and traumatized by the war, a place where the victims could recover. Almost immediately before her death, Betsie also mentioned a place where the persecutors could learn "it is better to love".

Corrie survived Ravensbruck and went on to establish the house of refuge and recovery about which Betsie was so passionate. Corrie later learned that her release has been a clerical error, and all women her age were scheduled to be sent to the gas chambers at Ravensbruck one week after Christmas. Corrie led a long life, publicly speaking about her experiences in over 60 countries. She died on her birthday, April 15th, 1983 at the age of 91.

The ten Boom story is one which you cannot easily forget. I admire Corrie ten Boom, not just for her bold actions and strength to fight against the strong and oppressive when they are wrong, but for her honesty throughout the memoir. She does not build herself up as a hero, but rather is brutally upfront about her mistakes, pains, and faults. She is quick to speak love about others, most notably Betsie. Corrie often mentions her struggles to forgive the perpetrators, but that Betsie continually reminded her of God's provision and will, often saying, "They don't know Corrie. We will show them it is better to love."

This book is challenging to me for several reasons, two of which I can articulate well enough to share. The first is that the ten Booms stood up for what they believed and practiced what they preached. This consistency is in itself often a feat for individuals, but I can only imagine how much more difficult it is to do so in situations where denying the authorities is almost a certain death sentence. We live in relative ease, and I still find it difficult to stand firm in my beliefs and convictions- how much more difficult will it be when I am given a choice to either do what is right and most likely suffer or to turn my back on my faith to avoid pain and persecution? This is a most sobering realization for me.

The second challenging aspect of the book is Betsie's focus on forgiveness. In the book, Corrie would often describe accounts which were difficult for both Betsie and her to witness. Both women would react similarly: "Those poor people. We need to pray for them." It was much later that Corrie realized Betsie was not just talking about the victims of the violence, but about those individuals and groups who inflicted such acts of hatred. This is not to say that Betsie's attitude toward the perpetrators diminished her care and concern for the victims or that she in any way lessened the pain done to them; rather she focused on God's mercy and forgiveness for all. We tend to rank sin: "This one isn't so bad, this one is really bad" and so forth. The Lord doesn't see it that way; all sin is punishable by death, and that's what Betsie realized- in the eyes of the one true God, her sin was the same as the sin of the Nazi officers who beat her for not working fast enough. Her sin was the same as the sin of the Dutch boy who betrayed the secret of the underground resistance to the police. Her sin was the same as the sin of her fellow prisoners. How often do I think to myself, "Well, I may do this...but at least I'm not as bad as him"? Indeed, much too often.

If you've never read this book, I highly recommend it. In my opinion, this is a book that every believer must have on their list. Isaac also recently reviewed this book- check out his blog for some excellent thoughts.