Lost and Found

 

Last night on the mountain at Wintergreen we had just finished our evening meeting and were headed back to our rooms.  The word started to spread that there was an 8 year old boy who had gotten lost on the mountain and they were organizing a search party.  One of the guys had the front desk call all the rooms where we were staying and, to my heartfelt joy, we probably had well over a hundred men show up in the dark to look for the boy.  They used bloodhounds and all kinds of volunteers.  I went to bed not knowing if he were found but on rising was joyful to hear he'd been located and was well.  This morning I heard more of the rescue story.  One of the older men at the retreat was sharing during a testimony time when many men spoke.  His words were halting and full of emotion as he told the story of his grief.  His wife of many years had died not long ago and he has wrestled severely with the loss.  Last night he was one of the volunteers helping in the search.  He threw his lot in with some of the local search and rescue professionals as they drove down roads and cul-de-sacs and searched vacant vacation cottages.  They were about to give up, thinking all the possible homes had been examined when they poked down one last lane.  One of the empty homes had a light shining through a first floor window and as they walked around this place, they discovered the missing boy standing in the shadows.  He was physically fine and, of course, the family was overjoyed.  The Mom was quoted as saying: "I was more anxious about your arrival this time than when you were born!"  The fellow who has been dealing with a great loss was given the privilege by our wonderful Lord of having a direct role in a great find.  The Lord found a boy and provided some healing for an older man.

 

Truly this was a weekend when many were found on the mountain!

 

Luke 15:4-7"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."

 

blessings,

Rob Smith