I have not written anything in a very long time. Not a blog post, not a letter or note card, not even a grocery list. It's hard for me to write when I feel like I have nothing to say, or when the daily rat race has sucked the life and creativity right out of me. Writing comes easy when I'm full and overflowing. But for quite some time now (a couple of years or more) I've been hollow, and drained.
We can sit and talk about the cause of my blahs some other time, but not today. Today, I have something to write about! Here is my story.
We can sit and talk about the cause of my blahs some other time, but not today. Today, I have something to write about! Here is my story.
The Finder of the Lost
Almost two decades ago I had a very special and favorite pen. Well, okay, I admit that I almost always have a special and favorite pen, (anyone who likes to write has one) but the pen I'm talking about was EXTRA special and VERY favored. You might say that I was strangely obsessed with my pen. But hey, I could have had worse hangups.
One terrible day I lost my pen. To say that I was upset is kind of like saying that Mt. Everest is a hill. Since I was a bit obsessed with my pen, I became super obsessed with trying to find it. My children probably can still remember the day that every activity and chore around the house came to a halt so that the whole family could help me search. I looked everywhere it could possible be! The highly favored pen would not be found.
I remember finally giving up the search, sitting cross legged in the middle of my bed, head bowed low, and praying--asking the God of the universe to help me find my favorite pen.
Now you might think that was a little crazy. For just a minute I thought it was crazy. I thought I was crazy, and I was afraid God might think I was crazy. But I took the chance and asked my heavenly Father for a favor. I explained to Him how much I liked my pen and that I knew it was silly to be so concerned over something as trivial as a pen and then...
"Just show it to me, PLEASE," I said.
I finished with "Amen," raised my head and opened my eyes. Behold! Straight ahead, on the bookcase across the room from where I sat, was my favorite pen, shut in the middle of a Bible study book I had recently used.
Confession time now. When I sat down to pray, did I really think I was going to get an instant response? No. Would you have expected it had you been in my place? Tell me the truth now.
I was overwhelmed. Yes, I was happy that my pen was found, but I was overwhelmed by the fact that the God of the universe heard me, answered me, and didn't seem to mind that I had a pen obsession.
Of course I offered up a sincere, heartfelt "thank you." And since I had already shown God my crazy side, I had nothing to fear when I asked Him, "Why did you do this for me?"
Again the answer came instantly, this time to my spiritual ears, "So you will never forget that I AM the Finder of the lost."
One terrible day I lost my pen. To say that I was upset is kind of like saying that Mt. Everest is a hill. Since I was a bit obsessed with my pen, I became super obsessed with trying to find it. My children probably can still remember the day that every activity and chore around the house came to a halt so that the whole family could help me search. I looked everywhere it could possible be! The highly favored pen would not be found.
I remember finally giving up the search, sitting cross legged in the middle of my bed, head bowed low, and praying--asking the God of the universe to help me find my favorite pen.
Now you might think that was a little crazy. For just a minute I thought it was crazy. I thought I was crazy, and I was afraid God might think I was crazy. But I took the chance and asked my heavenly Father for a favor. I explained to Him how much I liked my pen and that I knew it was silly to be so concerned over something as trivial as a pen and then...
"Just show it to me, PLEASE," I said.
I finished with "Amen," raised my head and opened my eyes. Behold! Straight ahead, on the bookcase across the room from where I sat, was my favorite pen, shut in the middle of a Bible study book I had recently used.
Confession time now. When I sat down to pray, did I really think I was going to get an instant response? No. Would you have expected it had you been in my place? Tell me the truth now.
I was overwhelmed. Yes, I was happy that my pen was found, but I was overwhelmed by the fact that the God of the universe heard me, answered me, and didn't seem to mind that I had a pen obsession.
Of course I offered up a sincere, heartfelt "thank you." And since I had already shown God my crazy side, I had nothing to fear when I asked Him, "Why did you do this for me?"
Again the answer came instantly, this time to my spiritual ears, "So you will never forget that I AM the Finder of the lost."
"For the Son of Man came
to seek and to save the lost."
Luke 19:10 HCSB
Wooooah! I bawled like a baby and I've never forgotten it. Now that I know, without a doubt, that God sees all, knows all, doesn't mind being bothered with crazy stuff and is the finder of the lost, I go to Him expectantly and quickly for help in finding any and all that are lost.
To be continued...
To be continued...