Lost and found

Have you ever lost something? I have.

I can remember one time when our oldest daughter, Christie, was lost on a beach. We were on a beach in California, actually La Jolla beach, and were doing what families do.

All of a sudden we turned around and Christie was gone.

I will never forget that feeling of terror and anguish. We couldn't find our little girl!

Christie has wandered off - and on her way back she was looking for the lifeguard stand by which we were "camped" - and went to the wrong one.

The story ended well as we did find her! Man, did we rejoice!

She was lost and then she was found!

I read a story today that reminded me of that. Let me quote it to you:

"An 11-year-old girl missing for five days in an alligator-infested Florida swamp was found alive by search crews overnight and carried out Tuesday morning, police announced.

Nadia Bloom, who is thought to have a mild form of autism, was said to be in good shape, but was tired, hungry and covered in mosquito bites.

She made two comments upon being rescued, Winter Springs Police Chief Kevin Brunelle told reporters: "Glad you guys found me" and "can't believe you rescued me."

He added that rescuers "had to carry her out of the water, they had to chop their way out of the bushes" since the swamp was too dense for a helicopter landing.

"She's got a heck of a story to tell" about her ordeal, he added.

Brunelle praised the crews for having made their way through the swampy terrain that ranged from six feet of water to five feet of mud.

The Metro Church, which is attended by Nadia's family, said one of its members found the child.

Concern for the girl had been growing after police exhausted every possible tip during an all-out search that began last Friday when Nadia disappeared from her Winter Springs neighborhood.

NBC's Orlando station WESH TV said the girl was taken to a hospital for a checkup. Dr. Todd Husty said although she was covered in bug bites, she was not in a life-threatening condition.

Winter Springs officials had not been soliciting help from volunteers in the search, WESH reported, but the Metro Church member, James King, and others from the church decided to carry out their own search.

"Obviously, we are ecstatic. Unbelievable good news," Church pastor Dan Holland said, according to WESH.

Holland said a search team of about 35 to 40 men worked through the night Monday. He said the searchers prayed, asking God to lead them to Nadia, then walked straight into the swamp and found her, WESH reported.

"The hand of God ...," Holland told the news station. "However someone is found alive, I don't care. We are just ecstatic."

Teresa Brown, director of children's ministry at the church, told msnbc.com that a celebratory dinner was to be held at the church Tuesday, although she was unsure whether Nadia or any family members would be able to attend.

"I know they are going to be invited, but we don't really expect them to be here," Brown said. "I'm just overwhelmed with joy, it's been an absolutely wonderful morning."

You know, that's the way I feel about the non-churched in the southland of Chicago. They are lost, spiritually, looking for purpose and meaning in life.

I feel that same intensity in my spirit to help them "find their way," so to speak, by connecting to the answer, the purpose, the direction, the relationship, the helper, the forgiver of our wrongs, the one who can save us not only from our sins, but many times from ourselves.

His name is Jesus. And when people do connect (as the 20-25 did on Easter Sunday) I rejoice! The Bible says that the angels rejoice!

May we search for those who are "lost" spiritually with the same intensity that we would a lost child.

Blessings....