Lost And Found

1 Timothy 6: 18

The following is the true story and sequence of events behind the image.

A man I personally know was walking along a street with a younger man.

They both came across a notebook sitting at a bus stop bench.

The young man picked up the notebook, thinking he can put it to good use.

Looking through it, he sees what seemed to be important writings.

There were two names and addresses on the inside cover.

Same address and last name, but the first initial and other first name was different.

It looked like it was a student's notebook and they were still living at home.

The older man suggests returning the notebook to the address.

The young man agrees and hands it to the older man.

The older man is mentoring the young man regarding the faithful walk in Christ.

They are on their way to break bread and speak of things from Above.

The young man is currently homeless and experiencing the consequences of a litany of bad decisions and rebelliousness.

The young man has been coming to better understand how God has been loving him despite the troubles from his bad choices; grace.

After lunch, the two men part ways.

The older man walks towards a local post office to mail the notebook.

Looking through the notebook, there are plans of attending a school overseas.

The older man understands the hours that must have gone into the many notes, planning, reminders, brainstorming, and all else that he gleams from a quick glance read of the notebook's contents.

The notebook's contents are important.

He also considers if it were mere poetry, would the owner consider their property any less important than the planning of attending schools overseas.

The content's importance is relative to the owner's judgment, not another reader's judgment.

He considers if he were to have lost anything that was his, regardless of the content, he would surely desire it to be returned to him.

The cost to send the notebook was about six dollars; a bit pricey considering the size and weight, but the man was glad to find out the notebook would be delivered the next day.

At the post office window, the man did not desire to leave a return address.

He figured in avoiding a response, perhaps the recipient's gratitude would only reach God's ears.

However, the post office clerk insisted.

The man complied, but did not include his name.

A personal delivery would not have been appropriate and would have defeated the purpose of the good deed.

The man wondered if he would receive a response, and did anticipate such in some way.

A few days later he found a small envelope addressed to 'resident' and his address in his mailbox, recognizing an address he wrote down a few days earlier.

He was surprised to read the name of the person; Joy.

For it was an inexpressible joy that filled up inside the man's heart, and he praised God... not so much for the green paper that was included in the envelope, but the message from Joy.

The man read the card several times again that evening, considering how what may seem like a small thing can make a big difference in someone's life... his own and that of another person.

The message of gratitude and the thought that he participated in some small way in recovery what was lost meant more than any amount of green paper.