Friday, September 12

By Sara Parkin of Midland, Michigan, USA

…If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

—Matthew 18:12–13 NRSV

I lost my wallet. My money, credit cards, driver’s license, insurance cards, all lost in my missing wallet. Butch and I looked everywhere we had passed. We went to the security office, and they asked many questions, but I could not remember because of my Alzheimer’s.

Butch and I tried to retrace our steps. The memory loss scared me. And then, I went to my Higher Power. I calmed down. Butch said we should look one more place. OK.

Looking again, we saw nothing. The carpet was dark,, and so was the wallet. So I went to my knees. I used my fingers, I felt something, and I picked up my wallet. Thank you, God.

It was just a wallet, and yet, I cried. Not for the wallet, but for my memory loss. And when I found it I was so happy, and it felt like a blessing. I thought of the lost sheep and how the shepherd went back, he went out of his way, off the known path to find the sheep. It was lost and then found by love.

Get Lost, Be Found

Travel the known path if you must.

However, if you do, you will see nothing new.

In fact, you will see nothing at all—except your small

destination. Journey the mysterious,

the unknown, the curious,

and you will be led to pause

by the journey itself as it draws

you in. There you will know,

not where you go, but how you flow

from one moment to another—

and this, I vow, will allow

you the time to ponder the pond, spy the sparrow,

heed the road—so wide, so narrow.

In the here and the now, in the near and the far

Get lost, then be found where you are.

—Lu Mountenay

Prayer for Peace Gentle Shepherd, we thank you for finding us, day after day.

Spiritual Practice: Joy of Gratitude With arms outstretched, imagine God filling them with all that you have: family, friends, and possessions. Sit for a time aware of your abundance. Ask God to help you share.

Peace Covenant Today, God, I will not feel lost, being aware that you know where I am.