Where Do People Find You?

When Jesus was twelve years old, His parents thought He was lost.

Every year, Mary and Joseph travelled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. It was part of their family’s rhythm and commitment to worship. On one particular trip, after the feast had ended, they began the journey home assuming Jesus was somewhere among relatives and friends.

A day passed before they realised He was missing.

They searched among family members.

They searched among neighbours.

They searched among fellow travellers.

But they could not find Him.

For three days they looked for Him before returning to Jerusalem.

When they finally found Him, He was not wandering the streets. He was not distracted. He was not lost.

He was in the temple.

He was in His Father’s house.

What strikes me most is what He was doing there.

Jesus was listening.

He was asking questions.

He was learning.

He was engaging with teachers.

He was developing His understanding.

The teachers were amazed by His insight and the sharpness of His answers. Yet those answers did not appear out of nowhere. They were the result of curiosity, attentiveness, learning, and commitment.

While His parents thought He was lost, Jesus knew exactly where He was.

He was where He belonged.

That story makes me wonder: where do people find you?

If those closest to you went looking for you, where would they search?

And perhaps an even deeper question: where do you find yourself?

Growing up, there were things I genuinely loved doing.

For me, one of those things was music.

I loved singing.

Yet it was not always easy to pursue. Like many of us, I grew up hearing the importance of education, careers, professions, and practical choices. Those lessons were valuable, but they sometimes made it difficult to give attention to the things that naturally brought me joy.

So I often enjoyed music quietly and sometimes in secret.

Looking back now, if I could speak to my younger self, I would say something different.

Do what Jesus did.

Let people look for you where everyone expects you to be.

Let them search in the familiar places.

Let them search among the crowds.

Then let them find you where God has called you to be.

Not because you are trying to rebel.

Not because you are trying to prove a point.

But because you have discovered something worth pursuing.

The older I get, the more I realise that passion is often a clue to purpose.

But purpose requires more than passion.

The things we love require discipline.

They require learning.

They require asking questions.

They require practice.

They require continuous growth.

Jesus loved being in the temple, but He was not simply sitting there enjoying the atmosphere. He was actively learning. He was developing Himself.

The same is true for us.

Whether it is music, writing, leadership, teaching, business, healthcare, ministry, or any other calling, excellence grows where passion meets commitment.

I also find it interesting that when Mary and Joseph finally found Jesus, they were upset. They had been worried. They had spent days searching for Him.

Yet despite their anxiety, they found Him in a good place.

They found Him doing something meaningful.

They found Him learning.

They found Him growing.

They found Him becoming who He was called to be.

Perhaps that is the kind of place we should all aspire to be found.

Not necessarily where everyone expects us to be.

Not necessarily where everyone else is gathered.

But in the place where our gifts, our purpose, and God’s calling intersect.

So I leave you with three questions.

Where do people find you?

How often do you find yourself there?

And when they find you, do they discover someone who is simply passing time, or someone who is growing into who God created them to be?

Maybe the answer reveals more about your purpose than you realise.