Marion and I were good friends by the time we had completed our first year of university. We had both grown up on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and after the school year ended, she drove her parents’ new Austin over the mountains to visit me for the weekend.

We camped in a small tent at a picturesque waterfalls park; I don’t remember if we had a camp stove or cooked over the campfire. In any case, Marion, a former Girl Guide, led the way in this whole adventure, and had practised skills that I had only observed from a distance.

We enjoyed our time together, and even planned to go to church on the Sunday, as we were only a few kilometres away from town.

In those days, nearly 58 years ago, it was unthinkable to attend church in casual clothes, so we had brought our dress-up clothes as a matter of course. Before Marion pulled on her stockings, and, not wanting to snag them, she placed the ring she had been wearing on the hood of the car.

After church, we were having lunch at my home. Marion shared with my parents how she had lost her ring, a family heirloom. “It was my grandmother’s ring, gold, with a tiny diamond, and two diamond chips on either side. My parents gave it to me when I graduated.”

“We can advertise on the radio,” said my dad. “There’s a lost and found program that comes on every afternoon.”

Oh sure, Marion thought to herself. She didn’t hold out much hope of ever seeing her ring again.

My dad was a positive thinker, however, and quickly phoned the radio station to put an ad on the daily Lost and Found. Sure enough, someone responded, and Marion got her precious ring back! We were all happy.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables about something lost.

A shepherd lost a sheep, and left the rest of the flock to go and find it. A woman lost a coin out of the ten that she received as a wedding gift, and began sweeping the house to look for it.

Similar elements exist in these two stories. The shepherd Luke 15:1-7 and the woman Luke 15:8-10 both lost something valuable to them. They were determined to find it, and searched until they did. They rejoiced with their friends and neighbours when it was found.

In the parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15:11-31 the father doesn’t go searching for his son, who had left home of his own accord, but patiently waited for him to come back. When he spotted him down the road, still a long way off, he joyfully ran towards him. He, too, rejoiced by throwing a party for his son.

These God-stories apply to our lives today. We can have love and show concern for those of our family and friends who are lost, estranged from God. We can purpose to diligently pray for them to be restored to relationship with the Father, confident that He hears our prayers. How wonderful it will be when we can some day rejoice together with the angels over answered prayer!

If you are lost, don’t hesitate. Run towards the Father. He is waiting for you.

Lord, thank you that You care so much about us individually. Thank You that You seek us relentlessly. Help us never to give up praying for others to know You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada