While visiting the legislative building in Victoria, British Columbia, we encountered a stained-glass window with a very unusual history!

In 1910, the legislative building underwent renovations to construct a library. In order to avoid any damages to the stained-glass window in question, it was removed, crated, and safely stored in the basement. However, once the renovations were complete, no one could locate that stained-glass window! (Seeing the size of the widow in question, it must have been a VERY large basement!)

The search for the crate containing the window was forgotten over the years, and it wasn’t until the 1970s, when someone was searching the basement for something totally different, that it was found. Now the legislative building faced a new problem: Where would they place this treasure? Due to the modifications that had been made over the years, there now seemed to be no place to display it! It was finally decided to place the masterpiece over one of the larger exterior windows, and by putting their creativity to work, the architects were able to artistically do so.

I would never have imagined that a stained-glass window could have such an unusual history! Imagine losing something that big and that valuable! Wouldn’t teams of people, promised amazing rewards, be employed in an endless search until it was found?

How differently the Bible projects the loss of even one small coin: “Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!'” (Luke 15:8-9 The Message)

In the same way, God will try to move heaven and earth to save even one of His children from hell. He continues to respect our decisions, no matter how erroneous they may be, but He will stop at nothing to reach out for lost souls and restore them back to life: “Count on it – that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.” (Luke 15:10 The Message); “Count on it – there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” (Luke 15:7 The Message); and “This is a wonderful time, and we have to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!'” (Luke 15:32 The Message)

Are you lost? Confused? In despair? Are people ignoring you, looking at you as if you were a hopeless case? Come back to God and experience His lavishing love towards you. No matter what your past may look like, He is willing to forgive you and welcome you as His own child!

“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’ But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here – given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.” (Luke 15:20-24 The Message)

P. S. Do you by any chance have a large basement? It might be interesting to see what’s stored inside!

Rob Chaffart