Remember that parable book I got for my 1st Communion in 1982 I told you about earlier this week? The one pictured above. The lost sheep was one of my favorite stories.

When I was younger, I never understood why the shepherd would leave 99 sheep alone while he looked for the one that was missing. As I got older, I realized that it wasn’t so irrational, especially if you just happened to be the one that wandered off!

But I don’t think the story is about the 1 or the 99, it’s the group! As part of God’s flock, we change roles constantly. One day, we might be the sheep that can be left alone and tend to ourselves, but other days when we wander, we might be that one sheep that God goes to find and then leads us back to the group.

It’s also more about that celebration that happens once that lost one is found. It’s the relationship between the one and the group and then both of those and God. We have to take time to celebrate the joy and the “being found” in our lives. Coming out of dark times, rough patches, or dark valleys takes an extraordinary amount of energy and work. Sometimes it seems like eternity before you find your way back into the light and back with the group. That work needs to be appreciated and celebrated by your flock. The fact that the one is back is what is important.

I have had a few times in my life where I was the one who wandered away from the flock. It’ll be 11 years ago on Monday when we had our miscarriage and lost my second pregnancy. I had a tough time dealing with it as we had just lost my mother-in-law; my Uncle Matt; and my sister happened to be pregnant at the same time. It took me a long time to climb back out of that darkness. I just couldn’t understand why our joy had been taken away. But, as my longstanding blog-reading friends know, a friend of mine helped me see the light when she shared this song with me. Click here to read the lyrics and my blog post 11 years ago.

Once I found comfort, I was still hurting for quite some time afterwards. I am thankful for the people in my life and for God who left the flock to find me and bring me back.

A few years ago when I lost a friend to suicide, I also had a rough road ahead for awhile. But, again, I am thankful for the people in my life and for God who again left the flock to lead me back.

Life is tough. We need to be there for each other. We need to help others who are struggling. We need to reach out – even if it’s out of our comfort zone, as that’s what God teaches us. At any given time, we could be the one who needs help finding their way back to the flock.

And, celebrate when you are the one brought back or if you helped bring someone back. God finds joy in our celebrations, just as we do.

The prayer for tonight: Lord you are always seeking, loving and forgiving, when we wander off. Grant us grace to stay with you and may we rejoice with you and all of heaven when the lost is found. Amen