When I came across O.C in my walks, I would share about him to my friends. The resounding response was a plea for me to adopt and care for him. We cannot have cats because of allergies in our family, but despite that, O.C. had absolutely no interest in hopping into my arms and making a new life with me. I left food for him a couple times, I opened my car door and invited him in, I let him nuzzle my ankles but he seemed to want nothing more than the desolate life of wandering, meowing loudly and scratching people.
Everyone can see when someone else is lost, but sometimes that is lost on the one who is. Ironically, someone crying over an orphaned cat may not even realize how grieved their Father is, waiting for them to come home. He wants them home.
Like the shepherd who counts his sheep and finds one missing, God knows when one of His fold is lost. He waits only to hear the cry, “God, I am lost. Please help me. Lord, I need you.” And then he is lost no more because God hears, God has mercy, God rescues, God saves. There is never a shepherd who hears his sheep calling from the darkness and does not carry his light to that lost one and guide him back to his loving care.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver and honor him.” Psalm 91:14-15
Meeting God at the Park 