The Bracelet

I have a collection of silver bracelets which I wear often.  Several of them belonged to my late mother, and the presence of her bracelets is a reminder to me that she is near.  I ended up misplacing one of the silver bracelets and spent several months searching for it.  Under the bed, in the closet, in drawers, I looked and looked.   I finally made an uneasy peace with the idea that I probably would not see the bracelet again.

As suddenly as my bracelet disappeared it suddenly reappeared when I friend found the missing bracelet under her sofa!  What joy it was to slip the bracelet back on my wrist, along with the other silver bracelets.  To me it was a small miracle that my bracelet was found and I could once again wear it alongside the other silver bands.

I was reminded of the parables of Jesus about the lost sheep, lost coin and the prodigal son.
In the Gospel of Luke we have a story about a woman who lost a coin.

“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 neighbors 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 15:8-10

How many times do we wander away from God, shutting off our relationship with the One who created us?  We get "busy," or caught up in our stuff, and forget that God is there for us in our daily lives?  How often do we just snack on the feast which God prepares for us, when we could have a full banquet? 

Too often we chase after things that will not bring us the fullness of life which we so  long for.  We seek comfort or guidance from our friends and neglect to spend time in prayer with God.  We look for answers to our problems or spend hours worrying over things of which we have no control. 

The image of the woman searching for her lost coin reminds me of my search for a bracelet.  It also reminds that God is always there, embracing me, calling me to the deeper life.    There is no need to get frantic or panic.  I need only to trust in God that all will be well.