Lost

The Lost Sheep, originally uploaded by deceptionpanda.

The Month of March came in not like a lion but more like a lamb at our house. And when I say lamb...I'm referring to the "lost sheep" variety.

You see, on Saturday, March 1st, our 2-year-old Doxie ran away, flew the coop, made a break for it! Call her McGyver-Dog! What Steve McQueen was to "The Great Escape," our Doxie is to the dog world! Escape-artist, par excellence! The Great Houdini of Dog-dom. '

And she's gone. Lost. Missing. Call it what you like. I've got a heart-broken 10-year-old son going through some serious separation anxiety. It's a hard life lesson for a little kid to have to learn so young. Our pup "Candy" has now been gone for more than 48 hours. We've posted signs, we've searched, and we've done all the things you're supposed to do. And still no puppy.

Will we ever see her again? Only time will tell.

My family and I have received a crash-course in "lostness" over the past 48 hours. There have been some tears. There has been some worry. We keep hoping for her return. Maybe someone will call. The "not-knowing" is what makes it hard for our young son.

This whole episode has reminded me of a story that Jesus told. Here it is from Luke's Gospel, chapter fifteen.

"By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, 'He takes in sinners and eats with them, treating them like old friends.' Their grumbling triggered this story. (Jesus then tells this story...)

"Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!' 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 15:1-7, The Message)

Losing our puppy has given me a new appreciation for Jesus' attitude about finding the lost. After all, that's why He came in the first place.

If we find our puppy alive and well, or if she decides to return home, you can be sure that there will be great rejoicing at our house.

Maybe we should have this same "the lost have been found" kind of celebration each and every Lord's Day when we gather at "The Bridge." We can think of ourselves as "the fellowship of the rescued."

Live the Red,

Mark