Longing To Be Found Again

We’re fascinated by the concept of rescue. Many popular books, TV shows, and movies draw on this archetype. Children’s movies such as The Rescuers; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Peter Pan; and nearly any Disney princess movie involve the idea of rescue from some type of undesirable existence. Stories for grown-ups provide just as many examples (Rambo, Saving Private Ryan, The Revenant, Castaway). We love it. We all wish to be rescued in one way or another—from unhappiness, a bad job, family squabbles, financial trouble, and the list goes on. We nearly always place ourselves in the role of the stranded, counting the days until we are “found” again. Very likely we’re also longing for something much greater to rescue us from the much more lasting peril of eternal separation from God. As Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” We cannot be at peace until we are rescued.