Finder of the Lost

The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

Today during Kaylene's soccer game at Concussion Park (our name for Selma Layne Park, Wendi asked me to hold on to Kaylene's ring. It was a Black Hills gold ring that we had bought for at Wall Drug last summer in Wall, SD. I put it on my pinkie finger and then refitted it loosely so that it wouldn't stay permanently on. Wendi told me to be careful and not to lose it.

Well, after her game was over at 2:00, we took her to her next game at the indoor soccer complex over by Fresno St. After that game Wendi and I went home to get ready to go to a wedding that started at 5. As we were sitting in the ceremony I realized that I didn't have Kaylene's ring. I hoped that I had left it in the car or taken it off when I had taken a shower before going to the wedding. It wasn't in the car and when we got home at 9 P.M. It was about then that Kaylene asked for her ring. I told her that I might have lost it but had to check a couple of places.

It wasn't in the bathroom and it wasn't in the bag that the folding chairs were in. By now it's after 10 P.M. and Kaylene was pretty bummed and also dealing with another unrelated difficult situation. I changed out of my wedding clothes, got a flashlight and drove to the park to look for the ring. As I drove there a section of scripture that we had studied at our Net Team meeting on Thursday was echoing in my mind - the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10).

In this parable, a woman who has 10 silver coins loses one. She lights a lamp and sweeps the house diligently searching the house until she finds the coin. When she finds it, she calls her friends together to rejoice over the found coin. Jesus says in verse 10, "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Kaylene's Ring

I prayed to God that He would guide me to the coin and I would search diligently like the woman in the parable until I had found the ring. It was dark and with only a flashlight I searched the area where we were sitting in the middle of the park. After 45 minutes, I found the ring!!!

I was amazed and called home right away. If I didn't find the ring I had planned on taking Kaylene out to buy a new one, but it wouldn't be the same as her ring. I know that God knew where the ring was and though He was under no obligation to answer my request, He granted it gracefully.

This may seem like a coincidence to some or just a silly story but to me it illustrates how much God does care about the 'small' things that happen in our lives and that He truly is the finder of the lost - both things and people. "What about that missing sock of mine? Are you saying that God knows where that is?" He does but do you really want it? I suppose if you do, you can always pray, light a lamp and start searching. I think I'd rather go to Costco and buy another bag of 12 pairs.