Lost and Found
Don’t you hate losing things? I feel like I spend one third of my life looking for things I’ve misplaced around the house. Why is this? I consider myself pretty organized. Sometimes I get the brainy idea to move something to a “better place”. That usually backfires when I can’t remember where the better place is. Alas, we are creatures of habit.
Just for fun I searched “lost items” on the internet. I couldn’t believe how much I found (play on words?!). This is obviously a common problem because there are Youtube videos on how to find your lost objects and Wikipedia instructions with 13 steps complete with photos. There was even a TV series entitled Lost (2004-2010). Who knew?
There are also videos on topics such as the “20 Most Wanted Lost Objects in the World” and even a website lostify.com which is an online lost and found for people or objects. This is going a little too far, perhaps.
Lost objects already result in lost time looking for them. Ironic. It’s double the loss. Do people actually need directions on how to find something? It makes me feel like the Alzheimer’s is coming on and I’ve lost my mind, if I would need to resort to a video on how to find things! All we have to do is LOOK.
Some people turn to Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost objects, for help when they can’t find something. As the story goes, Anthony lost an important notebook which was then later returned to him by the monk who had it all along. I must admit, Saint Anthony has often come through for me and a whispered prayer of desperation is a lot quicker than watching a video!
Psychology Today magazine has published articles about how to find your lost stuff and reports we spend a total of two and a half days per year searching for lost items! (Personally, I think it’s more!) Sixty years of life, for example, multiplied by two and a half can equal 150 days of your life spent looking for things!
Although sometimes hunting for lost things can be fun, like children searching for Easter eggs or a good game of Clue, looking for our lost stuff is typically not all fun and games. For some it is even a career if you happen to be a detective, or an archaeologist digging up treasures from the past.
Losing a shopping list or TV remote isn’t as important as losing something valuable like jewelry, money, or a sentimental family heirloom which can’t be replaced.
There can often be serious consequences for losing things. Losing your car keys can make you late for work or an appointment. Losing a Drivers’ License, credit card or Social Security card can be a gain for thieves and a nightmare for you.
Lost wedding ring? Lots of sitcom episodes about that.
Worse yet, is losing something that is alive like a pet or child. Anyone who has ever lost a child at the store knows it’s the longest 5 minutes of your life while you think of every horrific scenario imaginable.
This brings me to the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matt. 18:12-14). Of course you will go look for that one child (or sheep)! So many times we ramble about life like God’s lost children. How He longs for us to seek and return to Him, just as the father in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) welcomed his son back home with open arms. The father was always waiting and hoping. Luke 15, verse 32: “…your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
There are times we feel lost in life, like the prodigal son. We don’t know which way to turn. We are uncertain about the future. We need a map or gps so we don’t get lost getting to our destination. In order to not become spiritually lost, the Bible is God’s map for our lives. In His Word we can find everything we need to stay on course.
Mary of Magdala was looking for Jesus after he rose from the dead and was no longer in the tomb, but He was right there with her and she didn’t recognize Him. (John 20:11-18)
Jesus is always right there with us and how often do we fail to see Him or forget He is there? Unlike lost objects, we never have to search far and wide for our Heavenly Father.
Jesus, who is eternal, is the most important thing we should be seeking. More important than any temporary material item we have lost on earth. If we lose our salvation, everything we have lost in our earthly life would pale in comparison.
Let’s not stay spiritually lost. If you haven’t done so, you can give your life to Christ and He will guide you to salvation so you won’t be lost eternally. This is the most important thing you could ever do.
The hymn “Amazing Grace” says it well, “I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind but now I see.” Let us always see Jesus with us, and we will never have to be lost again.
