The movie August Rush is about a musical prodigy, Evan, who was given up for adoption as a baby. Evan grows up in a group home where he combats the idea that his parents have forgotten about him. He endeavours to find his parents and leaves the group home for the streets in search of the ones “who gave him the music.” As he struggles on the streets, a young boy befriends him and brings him to his street home in a condemned theater. The “father” in charge teaches the children music so they can busk on the streets for him. Young Evan has never played music but hears it within him. He picks up a guitar and begins to play beautiful music. The father recognizes he has been given a gift in this young boy and uses it to his benefit.

There is one scene in this movie where the father is trying to find an appropriate stage name for this emerging prodigy. As they sit together brainstorming, the father asks the question: “What do you want to be in the world? I mean, the WHOLE world, what do you want to be? Close your eyes and think about that.” Evan responds with one simple, yet profound, word: “FOUND.”

As a child who was adopted I can relate to Evan. There is something inherent within us that longs to know where we came from and to make that personal connection. For some, it is a frightening journey as they may never know what or whom they will encounter on the other side. For others, that desire may not be as strong as they are content with their current family situation.

When people would ask me if I ever wanted to find my birth family my response was adamantly “No.” There was a sense of inquisitiveness but I would not act on it. After years of encouragement from my husband and friends, I ventured to find at least some information.

Long story short, I did make contact with my siblings. As I nervously dialed the number and stated who was calling, a voice assuredly said: “I know who you are. We have been looking for you for over 20 years.”

I didn’t quite know how to respond to that. I had always thought that I was given up for adoption and that was it. I never thought they would be looking for me. Those words impacted me intensely─not just emotionally but also spiritually.

The parables of the Lost Coin, Lost Sheep and Lost Son in Luke 15 illustrate that God earnestly searches for us. Since God is omniscient, what does it mean when we say, “He is looking for us”? When Jesus searches for us, he desires more than the knowledge of where we are but also a personal relationship with us. I always knew I was adopted, but it wasn’t until I decided to be open to looking and finding my birth family that they found me (and only in a matter of days). I needed to respond. I needed to want to be found.

The same applies to our Heavenly Father. He is earnestly searching for us but it is our response, our willingness to be found, that he is waiting for. Once we take that step, he overwhelming wraps his arms around us and says, “I have been looking for you for years. I love you, I have always loved you. Welcome home.”