Lost Ones

I taught Relief Society today, and it has me thinking. Since it's been a while since I've written on my blog, and since writing helps me articulate my thoughts sometimes, it's time for another post.

Luke chapter 15 contains three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. As I thought about these parables and as we talked about them in our meeting today, I had some insights that seemed relevant and worth sharing.

Look first at the story lines themselves.

Man has 100 sheep > he discovers 1 is lost > he leaves 99 to search for the lost 1 > when he finds it he carries it home, rejoicing > he recruits all his friends to rejoice too
Woman has 10 coins > she discovers 1 is lost > she lights a candle and searches the house > when she finds it she rejoices > she recruits all her friends to rejoice too
Man and his wife have 2 sons > 1 takes his inheritance and leaves > they wait and watch > the son comes to himself and comes home > parents rejoice and kill the fatted calf (thus, they must have recruited all their friends to rejoice, or who would have eaten all that meat?)

What can we learn?

- It doesn't matter if there are 2, or 10, or 100 (or 10 billion, for that matter), the lost one is noticed as missing. And when a lost one is found, there is joy and rejoicing. This is not the kind of joy you keep to yourself, a silent celebration or a little happy dance - this is the call all your friends and throw a party kind of rejoicing! The love for the lost one is so great it is a thing worth universally sharing when the lost one is found.

- Some are lost because they stop paying attention or wander off looking for greener pastures, some are lost because we stop paying attention, and some choose to walk away. The reason for leaving is irrelevant to the joy and rejoicing that takes place when the lost one is found, or the love we have for the lost one.

- Some are found because there is an intense search and they are carried home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd, some are found because there is an intense search and they are discovered with light, and some are found when they come to themselves and choose to walk back. The method of being found is also irrelevant to the joy and rejoicing that takes place when the lost one is found.

- Sometimes we search. Sometimes we watch and wait. Always we love. But the only one who knows whether to search or watch and wait is the Father of us all, and He will tell us through His Holy Spirit how to find, love, and minister to those who are lost.

- All of us are lost ones, at some point (or many points) in our lives. According to Elder Holland, "except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on this earthly journey we are pursuing". So whether we have wandered off, stopped paying attention, or deliberately walked away, the Good Shepherd and His servants are searching, watching, and/or waiting for us.

- Thus, rather than be jealous that the guy who screwed up is getting all the attention, we can rejoice with Him when one of His children is found, because we've been there, we've felt His love, and we know how good it is to have everyone together again.

For me, this underscored the critical need for me to always remember Jesus and to seek to always have His Spirit to be with me. Otherwise, how will I know what to do to show the right kind of love to everyone around me, lost or found?