Making the Lost Found

For this reflection I started to look back to find how God has influenced my personality in regards to interaction with others. Looking into Luke 15, Pharisees and teachers of the law were doubtful of jesus. They observed him as he sat among sinners and they skeptically mumbled  “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” They could not accept the way he respected and treated people of sin. Jesus then shared a simple story about sheep. His story was of a man who lost one of 100 sheep and he left the 99 to look for the lost one. And when the man found the lost one he rejoices and has his friends and family rejoice with him. Jesus then  goes on to say, “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.” 

There will be more joy to help something that was once lost than interfering with something that was never lost in the first place. If never lost it cannot learn they are important enough to be found. 

I always assumed that my ability to speak to new people was because I grew up in numerous different places. Going to nine different schools seems like a great reason to be able to speak to strangers and make them your friends within a week. But I always wondered why I could never spend 100% of my time with the same group of friends. I always had to start a conversation with someone new, or even give away a compliment to lift someone up. I have always grown up to be a person that reaches out of my regular circle to ‘find the lost sheep’ and help them to be found. 

Something was always telling me to look around for something lost. I now understand that it is God who has always been telling me to find something lost.

~Bailey H. '24