Missing Ring

 Scripture

“‘Or 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 neighbours 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 15:8-10NIVUK)  

Missing Ring 

Last week I tossed my wedding ring and pinky ring on my desk at the end of the day. Later the next morning I put on my wedding ring, but the pinky ring went missing. Susan had given me the jade ring for our engagement in 1967 so it has both real and sentimental value. We scoured my study looking under the desk, garbage pail - even emptied the vacuum cleaner bag because we’d vacuumed that morning. No luck.  

A light bulb went off in my alleged mind and I remembered breaking up some cardboard packaging on my desk and scooping it up to place in recycling. Lo and behold after sorting through recycling, the ring peeked out from the bottom of our blue box. Relief, joy and laughter after Susan and I had been holding our collective breath wondering where it had gone.

 In today’s parable, a woman loses a coin, possibly one of ten in a wedding necklace. She sees one coin is missing from the set. Just like me, the woman wanted to find something of real and sentimental value. They weren’t vacuuming and recycling in those days but sweeping and lighting the room she found her lost coin.  

You’ve probably had panicky moments looking for a lost valuable and can share the joy the woman and I share. In Jesus’ story it’s the joy of angels when an old sinner like me comes to their senses and emulates Jesus’ focus on love, forgiveness, mercy and truth – it’s good to be found and be part of the joy.  

A Prayer for Today

O God our Father, we know we need to regularly reset how we live out that which we say we believe. Sometimes shame and embarrassment keep us from admitting our need of help. But thank you for being the ever searching One who seeks the best in us and sweeps the room clean to help us be found valuable, loved and restored to our proper place in your  service…. For Jesus’ sake