Lost and found
If you ever happen to find yourself traveling to the other side of the world to the beautiful port city of Osaka, Japan, you’ll have plenty of things to consider for such a big trip. But there’s at least one thing you won’t have to worry about: your luggage. Kansai International Airport, which saw nearly 14 million passengers pass through their gates last year, boasts that it has never lost a piece of luggage. That’s right, in more than 30 years of operation, no bag has ever gone missing.
Anyone who’s spent any time at all in an airport can attest to what a major feat this truly is. Here in the United States, one (conservative) estimate is that some 3 million bags are lost in American airports each year. Most of the time, they’ll show up at your destination hours or even days later. Some unlucky travelers report that their bags somehow get lost in the abyss, never to be seen again. But that’s not the case in Osaka.
Tsuyoshi Habuta, the airport’s chief of baggage operations, says there’s a whole system in place to ensure every bag is accounted for. Baggage is laid out in a particular order and counted not just once, but multiple times. “It takes responsibility and teamwork,” Habuta explains. “We take this work seriously, because losing luggage shouldn’t happen. Someone’s bag is precious to them.”
Sometimes I like to imagine if Jesus happened to be walking this earth today or was going about life right among us, I wonder what he would be doing or where we’d spot him. After hearing about this story, I’m convinced he might be running the baggage claim at Kansai International Airport.
Jesus, too, had a lot to say about lost things being found. He told a number of parables about lost sheep or lost coins. Maybe one of the most well-known stories of the gospels—the prodigal son—is all about a parent throwing a great party at the return of a son who was once thought to be lost but has been now been found.
Through all sorts of teachings and parables, Jesus made clear what the Osaka airport seems to know well, too—everyone (or everything) matters. Every person is worth the time and effort and care it takes to pay close attention, to ensure they have a place.
Kansai Airport’s track record is pretty incredible, but you don’t have to fly across the world to see this truth in action. Just open up a Bible. Take a look in the mirror. Or I’d like to think you could step inside St. Paul any given day. You’ll hopefully discover that when community, generosity, and hospitality are taken seriously— everyone matters and everyone belongs. Every single one.
Pat Koranda
I’m always amazed at how all staff at St Paul not only Talk the Talk but more importantly, Walk the Walk. So friendly, so caring, so welcoming!
Ronda Bird
A wonderful devotion, Katy. Thank you!