Lost

Early in the morning, my mother called. She couldn’t wait to tell me what had happened the previous day at work.

Mom works customer service for a big home improvement store. She handles returns and the like right inside the front door. As she stood there working, two men entered. The younger of the two wore dark glasses and held a cane. The older gently guided him to a bench. He helped him to sit then approached the desk. He had found this young man wandering in the parking lot; he was lost and blind. “Can we use your phone?”

“Sure. I can only make local calls. Is it here in Owensboro?”

The dazed young man stood. “Is that where I am? Am I in Kentucky?”

They confirmed, yes, he was. “Where did you think you were?”

“Texas. Fort Worth.” The boy started to sob uncontrollably. How could he have gotten so lost?

Mom called the police then started searching the phone book for anyone he might know. There had to be a reason he was so far from home and someone nearby who knew him. He did have name, so she started there. Going through one by one, she called every number with that last name. Halfway through the list she reached a woman, the young man’s mother. She was, at that moment, on the other line with the boy’s father. Mom told her where he was and promised to watch over him until the father came.

The father was actually in the parking lot. He had left the boy in their truck for just a moment to run into the store. When he returned, his son was gone. He had been scouring the shopping center trying to find him. He ran into the store, tears of relief streaming down his face. Strong arms enveloped his son while a tender voice assured him he was safe.

Mom’s voice cracked and faltered as she told me the story. She was completely moved by the father’s love for his son; by the fear he felt; by the compassion of a stranger to help him find his way home. As I listened, I couldn’t help but see the allegory. Does it sound familiar?

We have a Father seeking us always. God is searching, hurting, wanting nothing more than to protect us and bring us safely home. He may be just a step away, but sometimes in our blindness we fail to see. We are the lost ones. We think we know what we’re doing, but so often haven’t even a clue where we are. Sometimes we need a friend or stranger to help us; maybe even angels protecting us while we wait. Sometimes, after we’ve been found, we need to help others, show them where they are and how they can get home.

Who are you in this play? Are you the lost child? Have you been found? Or are you the stranger helping another to be found?

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look with all your heart and with all your soul.” – Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” – Luke 15: 4-7 (NIV)