Lost and found at ArtPrize

My parents pulled into the parking lot of the Van Osdel dorms to pick me up. It was my birthday and the plan was to go out and eat, then go to ArtPrize. It was the first time that myself, my mom and my dad visited ArtPrize, and my older brother who attends Grand Valley State University guided us. We ate lunch at Uccello’s and then it was time to head downtown. Little did I know, I would see a piece of art that would make me question a void I felt in my life.

My brother led us around to various streets filled with art and filled with even more people. I felt stressed by the number of people. I did not expect ArtPrize to be as big of a deal as it is. Frustration kicked in as I walked through the people. Especially since I was bumping into people and having to wait for people to clear all of the time. When a gap opened up in a big group of people looking at a piece of art, I passed through the gap and saw the one piece of art that caught my eye.

 I saw a sculpture where two human figures were sitting and hugging each other, burying their heads into the other’s shoulder. Then, I saw the name of the art: Lost and Found. The first thing I thought of was the Parable of the Lost Son. When you find something that was lost, you hold onto it and promise to never lose it again. I never seem to realize how much I love something and cherish it until I lose it.

I asked myself, What in my own life have I lost and need to find? Was it a friendship? Was it a material object? Have I lost anything at all? Staring at the art, my mind started to race. My mind was racing through different people in my life, different moments in my life and different situations in my life.

 I could not think of anything very evident that I was missing. Maybe nothing was missing at all. So I came to this final conclusion, that it shouldn’t take losing something in order to love and cherish it. I should be thankful for everything in my life and hold onto it.

 Just because I love and cherish something does not mean it is impossible to lose it. God directs what goes on in my life, and I act on what he throws my way. All I can do is love and cherish everything He has brought into my life. By loving and cherishing the things in my life, it is possible that things will not be lost and not need to be found.