Lost and Found
Updated: Aug 3
a short story
It was the last day of camp and time for the evening celebration. There was going to be fireworks, music, games and food! McKenzie couldn’t have been more excited.Wow, I’m probably more excited than the kids!She thought. As she looked out over the sea of young kids that spent 4 weeks at Hideway Camp in the beautiful Isle Mountains, she couldn’t be more proud of how her first year as camp counselor went. She made so many connections with kids from all over the world, as well as made some life long friends with the other counselors.
Nightfall was approaching and preparation of the firework show was beginning to start. McKenzie was monitoring the crowd when she felt a tiny tug on the back of her shirt. “Ms. Kenzie, I want to go home,” said Joseph. Joseph was one of the smallest and youngest campers. He was very timid and shy. It took a lot of effort and time to get him to participate in any activity the entire duration of the camp week. However, he took a liking to McKenzie and seemed to only respond to her. “Hey buddy, you’re going to be back home with your parents in the morning! All you gotta do is get through the night! It’s almost over, we have a special surprise for everyone next,” McKenzie replied. Joseph put his head down. “Hey, remember what we talked about. Don’t be afraid to show your feelings but it’s important that we try to have fun.” Joseph silently sat next to her on the grass. Next, the camp director walked out to make a farewell speech and to also introduce the start of the firework show. Once Joseph heard that there would be fireworks, he immediately started to panic. “Ms, Kenzie, I don’t like fireworks! They’re too loud! I want to leave!” He started to whine. “Joseph, it’s ok! Where are your noise canceling headphones that your mom packed you? Remember you are supposed to have them with you at all times.” Joseph frantically looked through his bag. “They’re not here! I think I left them in my room!” His eyes started to get big and watery. “I’ll get them for you, just stay right here!” McKenzie rushed to her feet to get to his cabin for the headphones. As she was speed walking away, she heard someone yell, “Kenzie, help me! These 2 boys are fighting.” It was another counselor- Robert, trying to separate 2 middle school age kids who seemed to have snuck away and got into an altercation. She over to them and tried her best to keep them apart. After some time, they finally were able to separate them from each other. They immediately took them over to the “Detention Cabin”, used for kids who need a “time out.” There is a counselor in there who sits and talks to them about the mishap. McKenzie continued to the cabin , grabbed Joseph’s headphones off the bed and went back to the main spot.
As McKenzie walking back she could see and hear the fireworks had already started. Oh no! I’m so late! Joseph is going to be so mad at me! McKenzie thought to herself. She hurried back to where they were sitting, but when she got there Joseph was gone! “Joseph! Joseph!” McKenzie started to look and call out for him, however she wasng able to be heard over the fireworks. She started asking other kids if they had seen him, but they all said no. McKenzie started to she I told some of the counselors that she couldn’t find him and needed their help looking. Half of them immediately started searching. They went back to his cabin- he wasn’t there. They checked the dining hall- he wasn’t there. They checked the gym -he wasn’t there. They checked the treehouse- he wasn’t in there. McKenzie started to panic more. What if he’s hurt or lost in the woods! We have to find him! What was I going to tell his parents!? The camp director started to approach me. “McKenzie, take a deep breath. We ran the cameras. We can see him on video. He ran away from the main campground, however he did get cut off on the screen. He talks to you the most, where do you think he would be most comfortable going?” “Well I thought he would just wait on me or at least go back to his cabin. I’m so overwhelmed.” McKenzie started to cry. “Take a few seconds to get yourself together, we will find him. I will contact his parents.” I excused myself for some fresh air. As I paced around outside, I started to pray. “God, please help me. I need you. Lead us to Joseph. I don’t know how I will handle this. I don’t want something to happen to him, he’s so young.” Another camp counselor, Joy came out and gave me a hug. She told McKenzie that she prayed for her to have peace and for us to find him also. This would happen to me! McKenzie thought. Of course it happens on the last day of camp, the one day that was supposed to be the most fun. GASP! “I think I know where he is!” McKenzie ran toward the front station (used to check in and out campers, visitor center, etc). As she ran inside, she went around the front desk, toward the back door where they had conscficated all electronics from the campers (there was a no electronic rule until a certain time of the day). Lo, and behold there was little Joseph sitting quietly, playing on His Nintendo Switch. “Oh my gosh! Joseph! Are you ok buddy?” She quickly scanned him over. “Yes, Ms. Kenzie! You told me to always remember to have fun! I wanted to play my game instead. The fireworks are not fun to me.” She laughed and cried at the same time, while giving him a hug. “It’s ok Joseph, I’m just glad you are ok and I’m glad you remembered what I’ve always told you.” The other counselors and director had arrived to the station. “Thank God he is found! I didn’t get a chance to lock the station up before the activities started today, that’s why he was able to get in here, “ the director said. That was nobody but God, I thought to myself. McKenzie looked up and said a silent prayer of thanks. Joseph squeezed her hand as they headed back to join the other campers. All she could do was smile in relief.
This story is a reflection of the times where we may feel lost, but God always brings us back to where we need to be. Also, in times of trouble God always is there for our rescue. “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8. It’s important that we don’t forget to pray in those unexpected situations. Of course panic and worry rushes in, but we are to cast all anxieties on the Lord. All we have to do is believe and trust that God will fix it. Whether it’s in a way we want or don’t, God is a keeper of His promise. McKenzie couldn’t even be mad that Joseph found his way to the electronics- he was simply doing what she told him - “Have fun” and he found his fun! God led him there, kept him safe and that’s all that mattered. God does things in His own way strategically. God also allowed McKenzie to think of the spot where he could possibly be. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.”Proverbs 3:5. God comes right on time! Also because you are connected to God, He can save your loved ones!
Though we may stray or mess, God doesn’t throw us away. We may feel stranded at times but He is always there. Once we focus and be still we can find Jesus. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart”(Jeremiah 29:13). Spirituality we’re never lost because God always has his eyes on us. We just never need to take our eyes on Him. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry”(Psalm 34:15).
Matthew 18:10-14 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish
Comments