Lost Children

In Auckland, New Zealand, two-year old Aisling Symes wandered off from the lawn as her mother was cleaning the house. By the time the mother called out for her, she was nowhere to be found. A search was conducted first within the vicinity of the house and then in the neighbourhood, but these proved fruitless. The succeeding days, the media covered the story and police went to the extent of suggesting that the child was abducted.  It was two weeks later when police revisited the area around the house that they discovered the lifeless body of Aisling in the drainage a few meters from where she was playing. During the funeral, her parents called the child “an angel”.

In Colorado, USA, a run-away giant helium balloon was pursued relentlessly by two helicopters and other transport facilities, when Richard Heene sought help from authorities, claiming that his 6-year old son, Falcon, was on board. The incident was covered live by television beamed to millions worldwide. When the balloon landed, Falcon was not in it, so searchers frantically scoured the 50-miles route to locate his body.  It was found out later that the little boy was hiding inside their house, who during an interview said that “we did this for a show.” Now authorities are studying the possibility of filing felony charges against the parents for the “hoax”.

Adults cherish children. A child is joy to a family; a gift to a community; a vital element of humanity.  It must be because a child is innocent, helpless and dependent. The child seeks a nurturing mother, a providing father and loving siblings. The more that a child is showered with love the more that the child warms the world with its unadulterated laughter, its genuine happiness and its boundless gratitude. It is therefore instinctive for adults to be deeply concerned when a child is found missing.

When Joseph and Mary realised that Jesus aged 12 was not with them as they left Jerusalem, they searched for him. They found him three days later in the temple with the teachers. And Mary like any mother asked Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” (Luke 2:48) Not only will a family be anxious, a community would be restless as well. In the case of Aisling, concerned individuals and organisations, media and police exerted all efforts to find the 2-year old girl; while in the Colorado case, world TV viewers followed the unfolding drama with deep concern.

Christ tells us on how God looks at children: “These children are at the very centre of life in the kingdom.” (Mark 10:14) He explains this further: “Truly, I say to you, unless you repent and become like little children, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

If we are to learn from the Aisling story, it is that adults must pay attention to children, otherwise, they may get lost, if not endanger their lives, for children have no fear of the world. The balloon boy episode on the other hand reveals how adults can exploit, if not corrupt their children. Adults should be models of righteousness, as their words and actions are the templates that the little ones will duplicate and follow.

As children mature into adults – they become more confident in themselves which we expect them to be. Yet, there are those who become too proud and self-indulgent, at times denying God in the process. Adults get lost in the wilderness of a selfish and material world; not realising that the God they deny seeks out for them, so they will return to His warm embrace.  God the Father who created each one of us, loves us for we are His children. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16) When we are lost, God calls out for us: Listen, and be found.

by Mel Libre