By Kristyn Sleeseman, financial aid assistant director

This week’s theme: Living Ink: An Unexpected Twist

This week’s Scriptures: Isaiah 43:16-21 | Psalm 126 | Philippians 3:4b-14 | John 12:1-8

As I read over the theme and the Scripture for this week, I was reminded of a trip that my mom, my aunt and my cousin took when I was little. My cousin informed me that when we got to the store we would hide in the clothing racks and scare our moms.

The theme for the 5th week of Lent is Living Ink: An Unexpected Twist.

Get ready. While we were hiding in the clothing rack my cousin counted to three and we popped out, just as planned. However, an unexpected twist happened. The person we scared wasn’t my mom or my aunt. We were certain that our moms were lost. We marched ourselves up to the lost and found, also known as the announcement desk and home of the blue light special light. There it was – the twist, over the loud speaker – “Donna and Carol, please come to the front of the store, we have your LOST children.”

All I kept thinking was, NO, we are not lost, they are. The minute I realized I was the one that was lost, I panicked and began to cry. I kept crying. Then I heard her voice: “Kristyn, are you alright?” She wiped my cheeks with her hand. “Mommy loves you.” She didn’t yell at me for getting lost. She didn’t shame me for getting lost. She celebrated that I was found.

As we focus on Jesus this week and the unexpected twist, let’s remember that even though Jesus was on his way to his death, he continued to find people. He continued to accept people where they were: lost. He celebrated that they were found.