The Sock Jail

Encore Week continues! My kids favorite post…. they think the existence of the sock jail is hilarious and somewhat embarrassing…. But hey it’s practical and I reassure them that “everyone” has one.

In our house we lose socks, but not in pairs. We only lose one sock from each pair at a time. I’ve given up trying to understand where they go. I figure they may be mingling with the flashlights and extension cords we can never find. Better yet, maybe they formed a club and are helping the homeless. Just humor me…

Nevertheless, on laundry day the remaining sock from the guilty pair is sentenced to time in sock jail. While this sock followed laundry protocol and its rebellious partner did not, the orphan must still do its time for losing its partner. Sock jail is better than the death penalty, otherwise known as the trash can. In sock jail there is hope. One day the sock could be reunited with its partner, or one that looks close enough to pass, and continue its life of purpose. Until then, the socks wait in the jail – a straw basket on the top laundry room shelf.

Often the missing disobedient sock will surface under someone’s bed, in the back of a drawer or even odd places like in a bag of dog food (don’t ask). When that happens, the sock owner goes to the jail to check for the mate. If a reunion takes place, there is a moment of cheering and celebrating as the long-separated pair is reunited and able to fulfill its purpose.

Like the AWOL socks, sometimes we go through periods of walking on our path before realizing we’ve lost our way. The direction we thought we should take or that seemed right at the time was incorrect. We were misled and now we find ourselves incomplete, separated from God and suffering consequences of wrong choices. It’s then that we need to stop, recognize the error and go back to the path we were meant to walk. It’s there that we meet our Father and begin to walk again in His purpose for our lives. He alone can fulfill our needs. When we are following the path He has set before us, we can live our life in complete fullness and joy. On that path there is peace as the Lord guides our steps and provides for our needs.

Much like the parable of the lost son, Jesus teaches in Luke 15 that we are His children and are always able to come back to Him when we’ve missed it along the way. When we repent and turn back to Him, He will welcome us with open arms, giving us His very best.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:22-24 (NIV)

God has called us to a purpose and He will equip us with the tools we need to fulfill that purpose. When we lose our way, there is hope that we can run back to Him and try again. Thank goodness He doesn’t give up on us, sentence us to time in hell or throw us out when we lose our way . Now to go sort some socks…