I am directionally challenged. Living in rural Illinois before I had GPS in my car, I lost hours trying to find my way through the expansive cornfields where every road, every turn, looked exactly the same. Now, with GPS in my car and my phone, I am overly reliant on technology that doesn’t always recognize construction detours or closed roads. And once I know how to get where I’m going, my passenger should not try suggesting a different, more direct route. Changing routes means possibly getting lost again. And nothing feels more frustrating, vulnerable, exhausting, and defeating than losing your way. In Luke 15:1-10 Jesus shares two of a series of three parables about the nature of God to a gathered crowd. Before we get to the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11, we hear about the lost sheep and the lost silver coin. These two parables make a strong theological claim — not so much about those who are lost, but about the commitment of the one who does the searching. Neither the sheep nor the coin does anything to get themselves out of the mess. When separated from his shepherd and flock, a sheep hunkers down in fear, making him even harder to find. When a coin rolls off the table into a dusty corner, it doesn’t shine any brighter to alert the seeker of its whereabouts. It’s helpless, dependent on the one seeking to be found. These parables teach about our God who is relentless in these search and rescue missions, a God who will not rest until we are found. You can find the rest of the commentary on our website. | 
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