I was four then, when my parents took me to Disney World. I was excited to see so many of my favourite cartoon heroes live in front of me, the rides, the noise, the shops, everything was full of colour and magic!
My dad, said “Son, we will have lots of fun but beware of strangers.” We were having a good time as family, riding on the roller coaster, shaking hands and clicking photos with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. I didn’t know whether it was a dream or a dream coming true...
As my father and mother went for this amazing ride on ‘Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’, I chose to stay back as it looked very frightful. My dad tried his best to assure me, ‘I will be safe’ but I was scared...and said ‘No’. There, I met this sweet smiling little girl, she was about my age. We went around catching balloons, bubbles and small rides...there I also met some more boys and girls of my age...we went on a boat trip to the island which looked very beautiful from far.
The boat served us chocolates, ice-creams, pastries and many more delicious sweets...which were pleasing to my eyes. Soon I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes, I found myself chained and darkness everywhere....I screamed and cried but could hear only my own echo. I remembered my father’s word, “Son, we will have lots of fun but beware of strangers.” I thought strangers are those we see in movies who lure young kids with chocolate or cold drink. Now, I had nothing but to try tears...
My Mom, who was sleeping next to me, inquired, “What’s wrong, honey?”
I believe that those who just felt a goose bump in their stomach just felt better with the previous line. But have you thought what ‘lost’ means.
Sometimes in this world... we get so engaged in making money, a better home, good career, and better infrastructure. We build dreams for self-satisfaction. I am not saying that those are bad or evil but in pursuit of self-happiness, am I being separated from my parent (GOD)?
What about God? What about his way? Is your Soul important to you, more, to Him? I am reminded of a few lines written by an aged man where he speaks to himself and asks this question ‘if I were to live again, how would I live? Then he goes on to speak of where he had spent most of his time, working in an office, running after money and fame. But now he feels he should have spent time more with his parents, his wife and his son who today follows his footsteps and has no time for him, his wife and his son.
Adam and Eve were eternally lost from their relationship with God by disobeying God’s word. Since we come from them we inherit the same gene. They get ‘lost’ from God’s presence. So have we. Can we be found?
Jesus said in St Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
We will never be able to find ourselves unless we first understand that we are lost like the parable of the lost son in St Luke Ch 15: 17, “When he came to his senses.”
Once we know we are lost, we will still not be able to help ourselves for we do not know how to go back. It reminds me of what Jesus said in St. John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me and John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Once we know the way (Jesus Christ), it is for us to take that decision of heading back, for unless you desire to be back with God even if you know you are lost, and even if you know you have Jesus to take you back, you will never get into a relationship with Him.
But once you are willing, Jesus will lead you back to God the father by reconciliation through him. Christ died on the cross for us and rose from the dead to show his victory over death. St. Paul writes in the Letter to Romans Ch 3: 21-24 But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed… God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. But by the free gift of God's grace, all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free.
Once we accept his sacrifice and repent for our sins, we can get back into a loving relationship with our Father. And thereafter, whatever we do will be to please him and do His will and not our own will.
What a joy it is to know the amazing grace for ‘I once was LOST but now I am FOUND, was BLIND but now I can SEE.’
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