Lost and Found

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost. –Billy Graham


Remember that big box from elementary school? It had big letters hand-written on the side in Magic Marker: LOST & FOUND. It became the “resting place” for things no one knew what to do with: one mitten with the thumb beginning to unravel; a pair of glasses held together with adhesive tape; a spiral notebook left behind on the school bus. All these things, once valuable, now seem to have outlived their usefulness.

But once in awhile, someone persists. That mitten, for instance, turns out to be a child’s favorite, knit by his grandmother, and when it is reunited with the child who lost it, that child’s joy is unmistakable!

Matthew’s gospel recounts the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18). The Good Shepherd, we are reminded, cares so deeply for the whole flock that if even one lamb wanders off, the shepherd will leave the ninety-nine to seek the one and return it to the fold.

There is not a one among us who has not wandered off. Maybe you’ve even felt as if the Shepherd has turned away and wasn’t even aware you were missing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Each one of us is beloved by God; if we go missing, the picture is incomplete.

This week, we will rummage through the parables of Jesus’ lost—and found.


Monday Reach out with a phone call or note to a family member whom you haven’t heard from recently. Let your heart lead you in prayer. Matthew 18:12-14

Tuesday Is there someone you’ve noticed missing from the Church? Don’t wait for Heidi or Judy to notice; reach out to them yourself. Luke 17:11-19

Wednesday Offer a smile or a kind word to a cashier or someone with whom you are waiting in line. Set aside your agenda and listen. Luke 15:8-10

Thursday On the anniversary of the date the towers fell, practice random acts of kindness, just because. Pray for those whose lives are wracked by terror. Luke 18:9-14

Friday Tell someone (or more than one) how much he or she matters in your life. Ask if they have any special needs. Pray with and/ or for them. Matthew 7:24-30

Saturday Pause today as you pray for yourself and reflect on a time when you were lost or felt like you were lost, separated from those who care about you. How did it feel to be reunited (or are you still waiting)? Rest and give thanks. Luke 15:11-32

Sunday (Rally Day—welcome back!) Spend some time today in prayer for and about the Church in the Circle. What does it mean that All are welcome. All the time?


The Church is the great lost-and-found department. –Robert Short

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping back. . . .

Image
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and with a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,  even if your whole world seems upset.  –St. Francis de Sales This week, I invite you to simply sit in a quiet space with words of hope and promise, and to remember, as Julian of Norwich knew, that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well . It has been a long, difficult season. Advent and the coming of the Christ is just around the corner. Peace and comfort to your spirit. Monday   “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Matthew 11:28-30 Tuesday  “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6-9 Wednesday  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
Read more

It's that time again. . . .

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised changed, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness?  Whatever it is,  it’s welcome. –Kristin Armstrong No matter what part of the world you call home, this time of year brings big changes. While my friends Down Under are watching sings of new growth emerge from the earth as temperatures rise, here in Ohio, the leaves are turning from green to gold and orange, red and brown. The winds have taken on a chill; clouds hang heavy, like soggy cotton, reminding us that soon and very soon, we are going to see the snow . Always different, yet somehow, the same. We depend on God’s eternal ways, and trust that again this year, winter will follow autumn, just like it should. So why is it, as we anticipate and appreciate changes like these, when it comes to so many things in life we pull up short, wrinkle our noses and say No! No change! I like things just the way they are! It’s t
Read more

Starting again

“This, then, is how you should pray:" --Matthew 6:9a I have been really sensing lately that there is another blog inside me, one focused on prayer.  Oh, I know-- those elephants are all about prayer. Heck, they  are  prayer. And I will continue there, as well. But what I've been feeling is that people-- maybe you--  have always been told, "You should pray," or "Pray about that." But maybe you feel your prayers aren't "good enough," or that it's just too hard, too embarrassing, too [fill in the blank] to pray. Maybe it feels like no one really talks about how  to pray-- except, of course, for Jesus, in Matthew 6 and a couple parallel passages where we are given what's come to be known as The Lord's Prayer. And it is a great prayer. And there are other great prayers, and other ways to pray that do not involve rote. So "my plan" here is to share, hopefully on a weekly or semi-regular basis, a lot of
Read more