There is a very popular series on television entitled, LOST. I’ve yet to see an episode, but the basic premise is nothing new. People are lost on an island and want to be found. People come and go from the island, but the principals never get saved. How do I know these things? I have seen several episodes of Gilligan’s Island.
Ever lose something valuable? It’s a terrible feeling. Ever lose something that didn’t belong to you? It’s the worst feeling.
A few weeks ago, I asked one of our worshippers, Phillip Chu, with whom I am also related by marriage, if I could display the clay vessel he made at our All Church Conference. I personally thought it was a beautiful piece of art and wanted to display it at our office.
This Sunday, Phillip gave me the vessel in a cup covered with a napkin. I went to give it to our trusted office staff at their table when I was interrupted and engaged in a conversation. I placed the cup on the table with every intention of handing it over to our staff member when I was again distracted from my mission.
To make a long, painful story short…the cup was mistaken for a remnant of Yet’s Retirement repast and was thrown away.
Sunday night, Reine mentioned Phillip and May by name in a conversation about their son Jonathan. I immediately thought of the cup and began to look for it. I remembered setting it down, but couldn’t remember if a successful transfer had been made. I thought that if I had not completed the transaction, it was probably a good candidate for the trash bin.
I was absolutely mortified. A piece of someone’s creative handiwork may have been thrown into the trash heap.
I could barely sleep that night. I got up early and went to Rio Hondo Community College and went through all the trash cans in the vicinity of Campus Inn (both inside and outside). I’m sure the students who were there early were wondering what this Asian homeless man was doing in their trash cans (using a CSI-type flashlight and wearing surgical gloves no less).
But, alas, the vessel was no where to be found. When the office staff arrived later in the morning, they confirmed that in their constant zeal to keep Campus Inn clean, the cup had been thrown away.
I called Phillip and May and told them what happened. They were gracious and forgiving. May said that Phillip could make me another one… in fact, a bigger one (no doubt so I wouldn’t lose it). I was so relieved to be forgiven so readily.
Upon later reflection, I thought of the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son and how the Lord seeks after those who are lost. I’m not sure exactly how the Lord feels as He seeks the lost, but I know how I felt seeking something that was lost. How much greater must His feeling be.
I think the Lord was showing me through this living parable the importance of seeking the lost. I was wiling to go through trash cans for the lost vessel. What am I willing to do to for the lost of this world?
Something to think about.
Blessings,

Pastor Cory, d.v.