The weekend I was on my honeymoon was also the weekend of my 30th high school reunion. I hated to miss that. I so wanted to see old friends and reconnect. I found out about it too late and we had already made our travel plans. Maybe the next one. But the upside is that a couple of friends have emailed me and I have reconnected to special people.
But back to parties...
I was thinking this morning about parties, the one I missed and the ones I've attended. I remembered a mediation I wrote a couple of years ago about parties and thought I'd share it here. Hope to see you at the next party!
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I like parties. I love old-fashioned parties where people are singing and dancing, telling stories and jokes, hugging on each other and slapping backs. Parties with an abundance of refreshment and laughter. Parties where all ages are welcome. Not many people have parties like this anymore, well, except for the occasional wedding reception and family reunion.
I once read a book by Tony Campolo called “The Kingdom of God is a Party.” I think it must be. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 15 there are three parties that occur. In this chapter are the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Not party material? Read on.
In the parable of the lost sheep some poor lamb goes missing. Sheep are not the smartest animals on the farm. They will wander away. That is why a shepherd is needed. But in this story the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. When he finds the lost sheep he gathers all his friends and neighbors together for a party. “Rejoice with me: I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:1).
The parable of the lost coin shows us a woman with ten silver coins. But she has mislaid one. Ever lost money? I have and like the woman of the parable I put on all the lights, move furniture, and go through dressers and pockets and books and cabinets. When the woman finds her lost coin she calls her friends and neighbors, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin” (v.9).
And finally in the story of the lost, or prodigal son, a father frantic with grief and worry sees the son who ran away coming down the road. He runs to his child, throws his arms around him and with tears of joy streaming down his face kisses him and holds on tight. Loath to let go of his returned child he calls to the servants with orders, “Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate” (v.23).
We are God’s children. We all have been or are the lost sheep, coin, and son. Can you imagine the party thrown in Heaven when one of God’s lost is found, when a child finds his or her way home? I have been to some great parties, but the parties Jesus and the angels throw over “the found” must be fantastic indeed. These are parties I cannot wait to attend. And can you imagine how wonderful it will be when you are the guest of honor?
It is our call to help the lost to be found and in a way have a reason to give Jesus a cause to say, “Look! Come and rejoice with me for he who was lost is found! Let’s have a party!”
But back to parties...
I was thinking this morning about parties, the one I missed and the ones I've attended. I remembered a mediation I wrote a couple of years ago about parties and thought I'd share it here. Hope to see you at the next party!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I like parties. I love old-fashioned parties where people are singing and dancing, telling stories and jokes, hugging on each other and slapping backs. Parties with an abundance of refreshment and laughter. Parties where all ages are welcome. Not many people have parties like this anymore, well, except for the occasional wedding reception and family reunion.
I once read a book by Tony Campolo called “The Kingdom of God is a Party.” I think it must be. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 15 there are three parties that occur. In this chapter are the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Not party material? Read on.
In the parable of the lost sheep some poor lamb goes missing. Sheep are not the smartest animals on the farm. They will wander away. That is why a shepherd is needed. But in this story the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. When he finds the lost sheep he gathers all his friends and neighbors together for a party. “Rejoice with me: I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:1).
The parable of the lost coin shows us a woman with ten silver coins. But she has mislaid one. Ever lost money? I have and like the woman of the parable I put on all the lights, move furniture, and go through dressers and pockets and books and cabinets. When the woman finds her lost coin she calls her friends and neighbors, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin” (v.9).
And finally in the story of the lost, or prodigal son, a father frantic with grief and worry sees the son who ran away coming down the road. He runs to his child, throws his arms around him and with tears of joy streaming down his face kisses him and holds on tight. Loath to let go of his returned child he calls to the servants with orders, “Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate” (v.23).
We are God’s children. We all have been or are the lost sheep, coin, and son. Can you imagine the party thrown in Heaven when one of God’s lost is found, when a child finds his or her way home? I have been to some great parties, but the parties Jesus and the angels throw over “the found” must be fantastic indeed. These are parties I cannot wait to attend. And can you imagine how wonderful it will be when you are the guest of honor?
It is our call to help the lost to be found and in a way have a reason to give Jesus a cause to say, “Look! Come and rejoice with me for he who was lost is found! Let’s have a party!”
