Have you ever felt lost in life? Maybe you've made mistakes that seem irredeemable, or circumstances beyond your control have left you feeling adrift. Today, I want to share a story that might change your perspective on what it means to be lost – and found – in God's eyes.
The Transformative Power of Christian Witness
Let me tell you about a man known as "Neaners." He was an inmate at a county jail in Skagit County, Washington, where a unique worship community called Tierra Nueva (which means "New Earth" in Spanish) was ministering to the marginalized. The Tierra Nueva folks "listened to his story, walked alongside him without judgment, prayed together, and read scripture. In other words, they embodied the hands and feet of Christ for him."
The result? Today, Neaners is no longer in a gang or incarcerated. Instead, he's on staff at Tierra Nueva, ministering to others who have walked the path he knows all too well. This story captivates me because "it blurs the distinction between sheep and shepherd. It blurs the line between the one 'lost' sheep and the ninety-nine 'righteous' sheep."
The Absurdity of God's Love
This real-life transformation reminds me of Jesus' parable of the lost sheep. You know, the one where a shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find one that's wandered off? I sometimes think we should call it "The Parable of the Foolish Shepherd." After all, "What shepherd in their right mind would leave ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness to find one that has wandered off?"
It's absurd. It's bad business. It doesn't make sense. But here's the thing: "Fortunately, God doesn't care much about our capitalistic definitions of what is 'sustainable.'"
The Comedy of God's Kingdom
Jesus ends this parable with an amusing line: "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). But let's be honest – do we really believe there are 99 people out there who need no repentance?
These parables are divine humor, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take them seriously. As Frederick Buechner once said, "I think that these parables can be read as jokes about God in the sense that what they are essentially about is the outlandishness of God, who does impossible things with impossible people."
The Many Ways of Being Lost
It's crucial to remember that being lost isn't always our fault. Yes, sometimes we make poor choices, like the prodigal son in Luke 15. But other times, we're lost due to circumstances beyond our control. The lost sheep? It just wandered off – that's what sheep do. The lost coin? It's an inanimate object – it can't be blamed for getting lost!
These stories remind us that "being lost is part of the human experience. It happens to all of us, and it doesn't make us bad people or unfaithful Christians." If you're feeling lost, I have news for you: you're in good company!
The Celebration of Being Found
Here's the incredible part: whether you're lost due to your choices, circumstances beyond your control, or some combination of the two, there's a fantastic celebration waiting for you once you're found! And perhaps these celebrations can spark conversations about what we've learned while feeling lost.
The theological truth of these parables is this: "none of us is truly found until all of us are found." What if we understood that the essence of Christianity is about finding one another? "Perhaps this thing called faith is really about looking at our neighbor and saying simply, 'If you're lost, so am I.'"
Putting It Into Practice
In the end, let's set aside the calculus of our cutthroat culture and "dream with God of a world where the biggest parties aren't hosted in the mansions of billionaires but in the fields of shepherds." Because in God's kingdom, being found is cause for the greatest celebration of all.
The Transformative Power of Christian Witness
Let me tell you about a man known as "Neaners." He was an inmate at a county jail in Skagit County, Washington, where a unique worship community called Tierra Nueva (which means "New Earth" in Spanish) was ministering to the marginalized. The Tierra Nueva folks "listened to his story, walked alongside him without judgment, prayed together, and read scripture. In other words, they embodied the hands and feet of Christ for him."
The result? Today, Neaners is no longer in a gang or incarcerated. Instead, he's on staff at Tierra Nueva, ministering to others who have walked the path he knows all too well. This story captivates me because "it blurs the distinction between sheep and shepherd. It blurs the line between the one 'lost' sheep and the ninety-nine 'righteous' sheep."
The Absurdity of God's Love
This real-life transformation reminds me of Jesus' parable of the lost sheep. You know, the one where a shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find one that's wandered off? I sometimes think we should call it "The Parable of the Foolish Shepherd." After all, "What shepherd in their right mind would leave ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness to find one that has wandered off?"
It's absurd. It's bad business. It doesn't make sense. But here's the thing: "Fortunately, God doesn't care much about our capitalistic definitions of what is 'sustainable.'"
The Comedy of God's Kingdom
Jesus ends this parable with an amusing line: "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). But let's be honest – do we really believe there are 99 people out there who need no repentance?
These parables are divine humor, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take them seriously. As Frederick Buechner once said, "I think that these parables can be read as jokes about God in the sense that what they are essentially about is the outlandishness of God, who does impossible things with impossible people."
The Many Ways of Being Lost
It's crucial to remember that being lost isn't always our fault. Yes, sometimes we make poor choices, like the prodigal son in Luke 15. But other times, we're lost due to circumstances beyond our control. The lost sheep? It just wandered off – that's what sheep do. The lost coin? It's an inanimate object – it can't be blamed for getting lost!
These stories remind us that "being lost is part of the human experience. It happens to all of us, and it doesn't make us bad people or unfaithful Christians." If you're feeling lost, I have news for you: you're in good company!
The Celebration of Being Found
Here's the incredible part: whether you're lost due to your choices, circumstances beyond your control, or some combination of the two, there's a fantastic celebration waiting for you once you're found! And perhaps these celebrations can spark conversations about what we've learned while feeling lost.
The theological truth of these parables is this: "none of us is truly found until all of us are found." What if we understood that the essence of Christianity is about finding one another? "Perhaps this thing called faith is really about looking at our neighbor and saying simply, 'If you're lost, so am I.'"
Putting It Into Practice
- Reflect on times when you've felt lost. What did you learn during those periods?
- Look for opportunities to be the "hands and feet of Christ" for someone who feels lost.
- Remember that God's love doesn't follow our logic. Celebrate the "outlandishness" of grace.
- Consider how you might blur the lines between "lost" and "found" in your community.
In the end, let's set aside the calculus of our cutthroat culture and "dream with God of a world where the biggest parties aren't hosted in the mansions of billionaires but in the fields of shepherds." Because in God's kingdom, being found is cause for the greatest celebration of all.
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