Lost and Found

September 12, 2010
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Luke 15:1-10
Lost and Found
Year C
16th Sunday after Pentecost



A man walks out of the hospital, prepared to go to his car. But he cant find his car, frustrated that his car has been stolen, he calls security. They look around for his car and sure enough it is no where to be found. Until the man realizes that the door he just came out of is not the door that he walked into. And this is not the parking lot where he parked his car. In the midst of his frustration and pain, he has somehow lost his way…

A colleague of mine tells a story of being in seminary in new York, and being invited to a professor’s house for a gathering. She was given instructions on how to get there on the subway system. But once she gets on the subway, discovers that it is an express train, which takes her a few steps past where she is supposed to go, into a section of town that she is not familiar with. She panics as she gets out of the train, and it is obvious to others that she is lost – because one woman walks up to her and tells her to be careful, this is a dangerous neighborhood, the last time she was in this neighborhood someone set her hair on fire, so she has better be careful. This frightens her that much more, and she runs out of the subway station to see if there is another way to travel. The cab never shows up, and the bus seems to take forever.
She remembers her fear and resentment while sitting at the bus stop. Everyone was suspect – anyone around her could be the person who was going to set her hair on fire. She is white, and the neighborhood that she is lost in is black. Which only adds to her sense of uneasiness, and her mistrust of everyone around her.
We have all gotten lost in our lives somewhere. I think we have all been stuck somewhere where we are unfamiliar, but we have heard the stories of the people there. And as ludicrus as it may sound – we have been in that situation , where everyone we don’t know is a potential enemy to protect ourselves against.
The man who lost his car eventually realized that he had come out of wrong door, and that his car was even in that particular parking lot. He had been in such pain and frustration when he left the hospital, he was not paying attention.
The seminary student was finally put at ease in waiting for the bus when a group of ladies, all in their hats and dressed – came out of the building next to her, singing and celebrating at what a wonderful workshop they had just been too. They were all from the same church- and helped her to see the humanity in that neighborhood, before her bus finally came and she went on to her destination.
Being lost is not so much about the neighborhood we are in, or the people we are around, or even whether we know where we are going or not. Being lost is a feeling in the soul – it can a place of fear and uncertaintly, it can be a place of mistrust of others just because you don’t know them. I think at some point in our lives we all know that sense of fear we experience in making sure that no one sets out hair on fire.
I think that goes on in our world on a global scale. The anniversary of September 11th reminds us of that. Nine years later there is still a lot that we don’t understand about others. And that it is easier for us to condemn them then it is to understand them.
We have all seen the story of Pastor Terry Jones as it unfolds on the news. His instistance to burn the Koran on September 11th. And the reactions of so many all around the world – that would only make matters worse not better. It is a perfect excuse for retaliation in a situation that has been simmering for more than nine years.

I see the arrogance
I see the fear of being lost
I see insensitivity to danger.
But what does the bible say about how to treat others? The bible is full of paradox – opposites. It says that Jesus is the way – but also says to love unconditionally. The way to bring people to Christ is love – not punishment and condemnation.
Jerimaiah is full of despair. There is no hope for people. Things are so bad there is only destruction of created order. An yet even he says that not God’s final word.
The end of our world is not the end of the world. God has more in story for us.
Know what it is to lose – now what it is to be lost. Wants us all to know what it means to be found.
God is in the business of finding the lost. Giving us a home – making us useful. Jesus tells the story of sheep. 99 found, but one lost.
Kneel for prayer
Symbolism is that God is waiting for you in this place – now you are found. You are the 100 candle.

Wishing more people could be in that place. Being found not visiting the Vatican. Being lost about where you are – is a feeling in your heart.

99 candles surrounding your life now. God giving you a place to call home. To be found, love and accepted.

Give up fear – turn on the trust.
Turn from your old ways – accept the new
Rejoice – so that God is our there to find everyone. Rejoice when they come to church, when they come home.