Lost and Found

I hate loosing things. It sure seems like I loose more things than I used to. Some say it is my age and it will only get worse. Others tell me that I try to do too many things at one time and forget stuff along the way. (I know this is not true because I had to spit out my gum before I could type) Personally, I think there are little gremlins that follow me around and as soon as I put my car keys down they snatch them up and hide them in the dog dish. I have yet to catch any of these elusive creatures but it is only a matter of time. When I catch one all those who have been smiling to themselves waiting for me to admit that my mind is slipping a bit are going to be sorry.

The latest lost item is a collection of DVDs that cover two seasons of the Simpson's. I know the person who borrowed them gave them back and I put them on the self with my other movies. At least I think I did. They are not where I put them.

I was asked once if a person could loose their faith. the situation was presented to me like this: if a person has been baptized and at baptism received the Holy Spirit and forgiveness for their sins could that person later loose their faith or do they always have it, even if they no longer attend church? In other words will God still like your husband even if he never attends church. (Whoever said God liked your husband in the first place?)

I don't think faith ever disappears. Once God gives a gift God doesn't take it back. But we can loose our faith just like I can loose my car keys or Simpson's DVDs. We can forget our faith and in my book that is the same as loosing it. I know my car keys haven't disappeared even though I can't find them. (The gremlins eventually leave them out with some mike and cookies) A person's faith doesn't disappear but it can be misplaced. We can place our faith in how smart and clever we are or how good looking we are. We can place our faith in a country or in another person we admire. We sometimes place our faith in doctors and medicines. We can misplace our faith by trusting in all kinds of people and things that are not God. We only find our faith when we return to the Lord. St. Paul wrote, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." Basically, Paul is reminding us that only our faith in god really works. Putting our faith in anything else is really just putting our faith in our human nature, which you have to admit is a bit messed up at best.

When I loose something I try to retrace my steps. I try to think of the last time I remember having that particular item and then try and connect the dots between then and now. Sometimes I am successful, like when I found my left contact on the toilet seat. Sometimes I am not successful at all. (Where are my DVDs) We can do the same thing when we misplace our faith. When was the last time I remember having it. For us Lutherans we have our Baptism as the beginning of our faith journey. Whenever we loose our faith we can retrace our steps back to the baptismal font and remember that moment. Oh yea, now I remember. God choose me; claimed me as a part of God's family. God gave me the gift of eternal life and he gift of a new life now because Jesus erased the sin that was in my way. Now I remember where my faith is - in my baptism. And if that isn't enough good news - gremlins can't swim.