Lessons From LOST

On Sunday night, May 23rd, my family sat down to watch a television show that had become part of our family routine for six years. It was the season/series finale of LOST, an episode we had been both anticipating and dreading since the producers announced that Season Six would be its last.

There are a lot of reasons people watched this show. Some loved the spiritual overtones. Many were fascinated with the science. A lot of people were intrigued by the mystery of it all (polar bears on a tropical island and a smoke monster). Those things all factored into my appreciation of this show, but I mostly watched it for another very special reason—it was a show that my entire family enjoyed.

Every week since Kacie was 14, we made a point of watching LOST each week. If it didn’t record or the weatherman interrupted to tell us about tornadoes or hail or some other such phenomena, we would be sure to watch it online. Then we’d buy the DVDs and rewatch the old season before the new season began.

We did it as a family. Then we’d ask our questions and discuss our theories among ourselves. I even read a few online sources so I would look especially insightful from time to time.

But it was a family experience. Some families go camping or hiking together. We watch TV. And of all the shows we watch, LOST and Chiefs’ Football hold a special place in our hearts. (I’ll save a commentary on Chiefs’ football for another day.)

It was fitting that the series finale of LOST occurred just a few weeks before Kacie moves out and leaves for college. She has a new job and a new apartment in Manhattan, and soon she’ll be on her own.

As they said in the LOST finale, not really “leaving”, but “moving on”. And like Jack and Locke and all of the rest of the crew, Kim & I are learning some lessons about “letting go”, with lots of good memories to sustain us. LOST is one of them.

Summer is Near

I just realized that it has been almost 2 months since my last blog. Wow, time does fly, doesn’t it?

Since then we’ve celebrated Palm Sunday & Easter. We honored our moms on Mother’s Day. We’ve recognized our graduating seniors. It’s been a busy two months.

Now we have Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day and Labor Day to look forward to over the next three and a half months. That’s on top of weddings, vacations and weekend get-aways to fit in. It just never seems to slow down.

And yet, if we are going to grow spiritually, we can not ignore our time with the Lord. From personal devotions and quiet time to public worship and service, we need to spend time practicing those spiritual disciplines that make us sensitive to the Lord’s leadership and guidance.

I especially encourage you to be faithful in your participation in our opportunities for corporate worship. Time spent with fellow believers, fellowshipping in prayer & in the Word, is a key component of spiritual formation. We ignore such opportunities at our own peril.

Enjoy the summer. Take time for your family. Get away for a few days if you can. And join with brothers and sisters in Christ every time you can to give praise and honor to the One who is worthy.