Tip of My Iceberg

The masses have left, but not in one piece.

After two weeks of family fun and laughter, new games played, and unique traditions added, everyone has scattered back to their homes. With more than they came with but less than they anticipated leaving with.

Our home has become an extensive lost and found. From suitcases and stuffed animals to socks, in singles and in pairs, bits and pieces of each family have found their own dusty niche to hide in, away from searching eyes trying to collect things to pack in cars. As we’ve been packing away all our Christmas things, we’re discovering treasures in new and fun places–the bottom of bins, hidden in garlands, and the creative finds in corners of the office.

Socks are always a challenge on normal days. Add a plethora of children who tended to take off socks where they were and we have a potential foot crisis.

Losing things is part of my life’s rhythm. I have so much on my mind–or not enough mind left to hold anything of value–that I am constantly forgetting where I put things. Or I’ve misplaced things in odd locations. Like my car keys in the pantry, or my phone under a pile of dirty laundry.

The comical ones are when I misplace something, look everywhere for it, and find it was right under my nose all the time.

We all hope to find the things we’ve lost. Particularly children, who can become lost in an instant if you turn your back on them.

Society seems to promote lostness when we give our time to the distraction of watching others’ lives on social media, living vicariously through what we see on our screens rather than focusing on our own lives, finding who we are, and living our own dreams. Growing into adulthood, being able to make responsible choices and follow through with them is hard enough without social pressure.

The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-31 tells of a son who was wanting life his own way, even if it meant disrespecting his father. He took his share of his inheritance, left home, and squandered all his money on friends and parties. When his money ran out, so did his friends. He was left penniless, feeding pigs for enough money to live on. When he came to his senses, he decided to go home, throw himself on his father’s mercy, and ask to work as a servant in his house.

His father, overjoyed to find his son, said, “for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.”

Love found him.

We’re all looking to be found and valued by someone we respect. It’s often why we do crazy things so we may be accepted, loved, and known.

Jesus came to find us in our mess, to restore us to wholeness in a relationship with God Himself.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 10:10

We’re all lost, and we all need to be found. Like errant socks, we need to find the One who makes us complete and whole.

Without Jesus, we’re like a single sock, not useful as is but needing more to make us complete.

And we’re so much better than socks.