The Lost Coin

"...Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:8-10, NIV).

The Parable of the Lost Coin, as it is known, has never been very powerful to me. Perhaps it is because I have been fortunate enough in my life to have never had so little money that losing one coin would be detrimental. Oh of course we've been low on money before, but never in a place where it meant life or death. I've never had to chose between feeding my kids and paying my rent. Of course, I also live in the credit card generation, but I digress. I've also lost important things, as we all have. But like I said, for some reason this scripture never resounded with me.

Until a week ago on a Sunday afternoon. After church, my husbands and two sons headed to Disneyland for some family bonding. They joy of being an annual passholder is that you can go for just a few hours and then go home. So this ritual is nothing new or unusual to my kids, nor is our effort to collect smashed pennies - you know, the ones you pay 51 cents for. On this particular trip both Jacob and Josiah had picked out a Pirates of the Caribbean penny.

As we walked out of the park, Josiah, happily enjoying his penny, tossed it up in the air. It was one of those slow motion moments - as it flew threw the air we knew exactly where it was headed - and we all saw it land just off the concrete walkway in the bushes next to us. The horror of knowing that error might have resulted in immediately struck him as Josiah looked for it, but he was not able to see it because the bush was quite thick. Then it was my husband's turn, again looking for penny right where we had seen it land, was not able to find it. He suggested we just leave it, after all, it really wasn't worth much. Or was it?

To us, it was just a penny. To Josiah it was his deepest joy. He had visions of playing with it for the drive home and falling asleep with it in his hand, maybe even taking it to Grandma's house to show her. He had selected the design. He had smashed it by himself in the machine. It was his, and it would be a source of pride and pleasure for years to come.

But not now, it was lost forever. We started to walk away, and I could see his heart breaking. And that's when it happened. I found myself on hands and knees digging under a very prickly bush, removing debris, determined to find where it was. And just a few moments later, alas, there it was.

We all rejoiced, but none so great as Josiah. For it was his penny. It was once loss, but was now found.

Thank you God, that you too loved me like that penny: You saw the worth in me when I was really nothing of great importance, You lowered yourself and came in search of me when I was loss, and You dug me out of the dirt and cleaned me off.

What if?

What if we carried our Bibles like we carried our cell phones?
What if we asked God's opinion more than we gave our own?
What if we sang at church like we sang at concerts?
What if we allowed God to heal all our hurts?
What if we memorized Scripture like we memorize songs?
What if we forgot and forgave all past wrongs?
What if we turned to God instead of alcohol?
What if we searched our soul instead of the mall?
What if we hoped and and worked to be more Godly?
What if we strengthened our souls like our body?
What if we did as we taught our children to do?
What if we said less "me" and more "you"?

A Christmas Eve Not Long Ago

This is one of my favorite poems that I've ever written.
I hope you enjoy!
-Amie


Twas a Christmas Eve not long ago
That was much like any other.
Around the tree the family gathered:
Mother, Father, Sister, and Brother.
The stockings were hung by the chimney
(Because that's where they go),
And over the front door
Hung a piece of mistletoe.
Scents of eggnog and cider
And Dad's favorite - fruitcake -
Drifted in from the kitchen
From all Mom had baked.
The radio played
"Jingle Bell Rock"
And the little family
Began to talk.
"I want goodies and cookies
And all Mommy's best,"
Said the little girl
As she clapped by her chest.
"I want a bomb,
And I'll blow up the world,"
Said the action packed son
As he turned and he twirled.
"I want a makeover
And Rodeo Drive's finest clothes,"
Said the beautiful wife
As she struck a model's pose.
Without a moment's delay
The father began to speak
As he looked as his family
His voice was quite weak.
"I want a family that represents
Good in this life.
Not a glutinous daughter,
Angry son, or superficial wife."
There was a moment of silence
As through each person's head
Flashed a picture of regret
Of all they had said.
"I want a diamond
To sell for the poor."
"I want a machine
That will end all war."
The mother and son looked at the girl
Who said with laughter,
"I still want that cookie,
But I guess it doesn't matter."

Age is Not a Factor

On the finale of the most recent season of The Biggest Loser, two of the contestants (both in their sixties) made a very similar observation: Age is not a factor. Both of these contestants, having started the season severely overweight, finished it 80+ pounds lighter. Quite a feat for someone at their age.

When we look at the Christmas story, their are two pregnancies which testify to the same. Elizabeth, who was an old woman, conceives by her husband. Now this is not a new miracle, as it also appears toward the beginning of the Bible when the nation of Israel is founded. Abram is promised offspring so plentiful that they are like the stars in the sky, yet he is very old. And in the same way God keeps his promise to Abram/Abraham, He keeps His promise to Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah.

At the same time, Mary, who was a young woman and Elizabeth's cousin, discovers she too is pregnant. Mary, however, is not yet married. This news, while not shocking today, would have been life shattering then. It didn't matter that Mary, a virgin, was pregnant through the touch of the Holy Spirit - not that of a man. Yet, instead of destroying Mary's life, this news fulfills it.

Why?

In both cases, Mary and Elizabeth were faithful to God. It didn't matter that one was too young or that one was too old. They allowed themselves to be available for whenever God saw fit to use them.

Brace yourself

Can I admit something without judgement? I've felt a little a Job-like lately. In the past few weeks I've gotten so much bad news that I'm almost not shocked by it anymore. Numb isn't the right adjective, but certainly not surprised. I feel like I am watching a storm, with thunderous pain stiking all around. I never know quite what to say, especially since "I'm sorry" seems so trite.

A few years ago we experienced a similar season in my husband's family and it got to the point where one of his cousins confessed, "I'm almost afraid to answer the phone when it rings."

I know I am no Job. I've given in to the temptation more than once to ask God why, and each time I hear Him respond the same way He did in Job 38:

1 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?

8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.