Saturday, May 14, 2011

Lost and Found

"In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!" Luke 15:7 New Living Translation

I posted earlier in the week about our resident Intel cat who greeted me in the parking lot at work on Wednesday, very displaced and perturbed. Her feeding station is all the way around the back of the building, but the landscapers had shown up and she got scared and fled. Seeing her like that bothered me, I wanted her back in her safe place, away from people who may not be too friendly to her. I saw fear in her eyes. I know she recognized my voice and wanted to trust me, but because she was disoriented and scared, she ran from me.

I contacted Steve, our resident Intel saint. He takes his dogs to hospitals and care homes to visit the shut-ins and does so much for the feral cat population at Intel. He has been known to come in on his days off to trap cats and take them to the vet for neutering....He was worried about "Mrs. Howell" too. I worked all week, but a bit distracted. Thinking of her scared there in the parking lot, wanting food.

Yesterday to my joy and relief, I heard her meow when I called. She had found her way back.......She was very happy to see me, as you can see in the photo.

I thought then......how in God's name do people live through it when their children are lost? I cannot begin to understand how they keep functioning among the living. How do they get up and go to work everyday, knowing they are out there somewhere. Lost.....scared.....confused, maybe trapped somewhere by something or someone they can't get away from? I can't imagine anything worse.

That's how God feels about us when we are lost to Him. Maybe it's you that needs to find your way back. Maybe you are out there somewhere far away from God. Away from love, safety, home. Maybe you just feel like you are......He wants you back. He longs for it. With every fiber of His Holy being. He sheds tears when we turn away, intent on going our own way, even for a moment. God-sized tears. Jesus came to bring you back.

Like the father of the prodigal son, He waits. He gazes out the window hopefully, longingly. He aches to see that lone figure upon the road. He aches for you.  And He will keep waiting until every minute of what we call time on this earth is up. 

And all of Heaven will rejoice. Welcome home!

I encourage you today to insert a name after this last line and pray that the individual you hold in your heart will come to the Lord and find out what it means to be truly home......I hold Curtis up today, Lord. He needs to find you. Amen

6 comments:

  1. From one formerly lost...I say yes to this, Lori. So beautifully said. Thank God He is patient. I pray for my sister...that she may find a closer relationship with God and come to know that He loves her.

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  2. Michelle....I second that, and I will pray for your sister too!

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  3. and how wonderful it feels when the lost are found ...

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  4. Once I was lost, but now I'm found...glad beyond words for His patient watching and yearning for us.
    Beautiful post, Lori, and I love 'your' cat. Looks like the feeling is mutual.
    ~Debra

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  5. I'm one of those cat people who can't understand why people let their cats wander outside unattended. I've seen beheaded cats, cats eaten alive by wild animals, cats tormented by bands of unruly children, and cats that cause certain dogs to bark at 1 a.m. in the morning waking us at night. There are missing posters of cats and yet they get another and not understand that they need to keep their cat inside for the sake of neighbor relations and their cats health.

    But that's just me....Sigh. I love my cat too much to wonder while at work if I'll see him after work. As far as being a mother, I can't relate, but I can't imagine a child wandering lost and scared and being that parent tormented by those thoughts.

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  6. Nikole: I agree with you. My cats are very happy (and safe) indoors, have plenty of windows and porches and they are extremely content. Outdoor cats don't have very long lives at all. If I knew one of them was out I would not rest until they were found. I am not a Mom either, but I can imagine how bad it would be if my little niece were missing....can't even imagine it! Lori

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