One Lost Sheep

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
 So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
 ‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’Luke 15:1-10

Hoisted up on a warm shoulder
after a night clinging to life
I had wandered off on my own
and completely lost my way.

I thought I knew my way for sure
knew better than the loving parent
I was more clever than the good shepherd
how wrong this foolish child can be!

The first steps were divine tender grass
and gentle warmth from the sunset
then darkness deep and bone chilling
the howling of the hungry hit my ears.

The next steps were stumbling all
crashing into beastly grasping bushes
falling in to cutting biting holes
and finally tumbling down a ravine.

The pain of scraps and bruises 
was nothing to my rising shame
my brilliant self-deception
had lead directly yo my downfall.

The long night through I cried
a little babe in the deep woods
simply a tender morsel for the wolves
a feast of foolishness I caused.

There was no death this night
love found me in my deepest fear
lifted from my self imposed peril
love brought me back home again.

The sounds of friends and family
like choirs of angels to my rescued ears
this heart skipped and rejoiced
life will never be the same again.