1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,541 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,181 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:18,461 --> 00:01:25,181 Speaker 2: Life Audio. Welcome back, friends, loyal listeners, and welcome any 14 00:01:25,241 --> 00:01:32,941 Speaker 2: newcomers to this episode of Story Behind Podcasts. inspiring stories, 15 00:01:33,121 --> 00:01:38,841 Speaker 2: positive headlines from GodTube.com and LifeAudio.com, where we try to 16 00:01:38,901 --> 00:01:42,970 Speaker 2: dig behind some of the news that's going on that 17 00:01:43,051 --> 00:01:46,451 Speaker 2: may be fearful or discouraging and find the things that 18 00:01:46,631 --> 00:01:51,731 Speaker 2: really are positive and that show that God is still working, 19 00:01:51,751 --> 00:01:56,491 Speaker 2: that people still choose good sometimes. And today, I wonder 20 00:01:56,551 --> 00:02:00,781 Speaker 2: if you can remember the last time You lost something, 21 00:02:01,021 --> 00:02:07,521 Speaker 2: or you yourself were lost, which is admittedly a difficult 22 00:02:07,561 --> 00:02:10,701 Speaker 2: thing to do today in these days of cell phones 23 00:02:10,781 --> 00:02:15,221 Speaker 2: and GPS and satellite tracking. But it truly, if I 24 00:02:15,261 --> 00:02:18,081 Speaker 2: think back and can remember even moments in a grocery 25 00:02:18,141 --> 00:02:21,921 Speaker 2: store where I was separated from a parent at a 26 00:02:21,981 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 2: young age, it can truly be a harrowing experience to 27 00:02:25,731 --> 00:02:28,970 Speaker 2: When you don't know where something important to you is 28 00:02:29,191 --> 00:02:33,821 Speaker 2: or where someone important to you has gone. And so 29 00:02:33,881 --> 00:02:37,921 Speaker 2: think about what it means to be lost. It can 30 00:02:37,941 --> 00:02:40,481 Speaker 2: mean a lot of different things. In fact, my favorite 31 00:02:40,521 --> 00:02:45,371 Speaker 2: television show of all time had that name, Lost. And 32 00:02:45,430 --> 00:02:47,291 Speaker 2: it occurred to me there was a lot of gameplay 33 00:02:47,571 --> 00:02:50,891 Speaker 2: in that TV series indicating that one of the ways 34 00:02:50,931 --> 00:02:53,531 Speaker 2: to think about the word is that some in this 35 00:02:53,611 --> 00:02:57,770 Speaker 2: life have one. and others have lost. And in fact, 36 00:02:58,591 --> 00:03:02,951 Speaker 2: as Christians, it is incumbent upon us at some point 37 00:03:02,971 --> 00:03:06,550 Speaker 2: in our life to admit that we have lost, that 38 00:03:06,951 --> 00:03:10,951 Speaker 2: we are lost, and that we can't do this or 39 00:03:11,050 --> 00:03:14,311 Speaker 2: find our way on our own, that we have left 40 00:03:14,391 --> 00:03:17,291 Speaker 2: the flock and we need Jesus to come find us. 41 00:03:18,091 --> 00:03:22,451 Speaker 2: So with that theme of lost things in mind today, 42 00:03:23,071 --> 00:03:25,981 Speaker 2: I'll let you think on that for another second, and 43 00:03:26,061 --> 00:03:29,901 Speaker 2: I will be right back with two encouraging stories for 44 00:03:29,941 --> 00:03:41,601 Speaker 2: you about lost things being found right after this. Our 45 00:03:41,641 --> 00:03:46,721 Speaker 2: first story today comes to us from Heather Riggleman, and 46 00:03:46,761 --> 00:03:49,701 Speaker 2: this is about how a lost wallet filled with cash 47 00:03:50,601 --> 00:03:53,941 Speaker 2: found its way home thanks to believe it or not, 48 00:03:54,141 --> 00:03:59,781 Speaker 2: an honest stranger. It's rare for something of monetary value 49 00:03:59,821 --> 00:04:04,591 Speaker 2: to be returned these days, and sadly, honesty can be 50 00:04:04,691 --> 00:04:08,551 Speaker 2: even rarer to find, unless you're a good Samaritan like 51 00:04:08,571 --> 00:04:13,311 Speaker 2: 27-year-old Cameron Johnson, who spotted a wallet leaving the store 52 00:04:13,431 --> 00:04:18,971 Speaker 2: in McDonough, Georgia. Inside this misplaced wallet was a world 53 00:04:19,111 --> 00:04:24,460 Speaker 2: unto itself with credit cards, and $ 50 in cash. The 54 00:04:24,501 --> 00:04:26,700 Speaker 2: kind of things that can turn an ordinary day into 55 00:04:26,741 --> 00:04:32,901 Speaker 2: a scramble of cancelled cards, phone calls, and frustration. I 56 00:04:32,961 --> 00:04:36,541 Speaker 2: imagine Cameron knew something about that awful sinking feeling when 57 00:04:36,561 --> 00:04:39,681 Speaker 2: you reach for something important and find only an empty pocket. 58 00:04:40,961 --> 00:04:44,521 Speaker 2: That little rush of panic, of trying to retrace your steps, 59 00:04:44,981 --> 00:04:48,251 Speaker 2: and the quiet hope that somewhere, somehow, a good person 60 00:04:48,751 --> 00:04:54,461 Speaker 2: comes across what you lost. So Cameron found an address 61 00:04:54,541 --> 00:04:58,981 Speaker 2: tucked inside and drove there himself. And when he rang 62 00:04:59,041 --> 00:05:03,251 Speaker 2: the doorbell, the camera caught the sweetest little detail. Cameron 63 00:05:03,291 --> 00:05:07,190 Speaker 2: stood on the porch, wearing a shirt with the word SMILE, 64 00:05:07,991 --> 00:05:11,571 Speaker 2: stretched across it, a stranger's wallet in his hand, and 65 00:05:11,911 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 2: no expectation of recognition or reward. Somehow the shirt seemed fitting. 66 00:05:19,581 --> 00:05:22,101 Speaker 2: Because kindness has a way of revealing itself in the 67 00:05:22,161 --> 00:05:26,001 Speaker 2: smallest moments when nobody is watching and there is nothing 68 00:05:26,041 --> 00:05:30,701 Speaker 2: to gain. Cameron could have kept walking that day. Instead, 69 00:05:30,741 --> 00:05:34,241 Speaker 2: he chose to carry someone else's worry all the way home. 70 00:05:36,221 --> 00:05:38,741 Speaker 2: After I checked out, I was walking towards the exit. 71 00:05:38,940 --> 00:05:41,541 Speaker 2: I saw the wallet and I picked it up, Cameron said. 72 00:05:42,981 --> 00:05:46,140 Speaker 2: He could have handed it to an employee. He could 73 00:05:46,181 --> 00:05:50,781 Speaker 2: have walked past it and decided it wasn't his problem. Instead, 74 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,801 Speaker 2: Cameron took the time to find the address inside and 75 00:05:53,841 --> 00:05:58,411 Speaker 2: return it personally. But the craziest part is that he 76 00:05:58,451 --> 00:06:02,171 Speaker 2: then left without giving his name or hinting that he 77 00:06:02,231 --> 00:06:06,671 Speaker 2: wanted a reward for his good deed. The owner of 78 00:06:06,711 --> 00:06:11,491 Speaker 2: the wallet, Tyrese, was stunned. When asked if he thought 79 00:06:11,531 --> 00:06:13,991 Speaker 2: he would ever see the wallet or its contents again, 80 00:06:14,021 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 2: his answer was simple. No, I didn't think I'd see 81 00:06:18,281 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: any of it again, he said. Wanting to find the 82 00:06:22,361 --> 00:06:26,101 Speaker 2: stranger who had restored more than just his wallet, Tyrese 83 00:06:26,161 --> 00:06:30,301 Speaker 2: turned to social media and asked, Does anyone know who 84 00:06:30,361 --> 00:06:33,961 Speaker 2: this nice human being is? He had images of Cameron 85 00:06:34,001 --> 00:06:38,611 Speaker 2: from his ring doorbell. Eventually, the two men were connected, 86 00:06:38,871 --> 00:06:42,390 Speaker 2: and one small decision between strangers became the beginning of 87 00:06:42,431 --> 00:06:46,510 Speaker 2: a friendship. Sometimes it's easy to look at the world 88 00:06:46,630 --> 00:06:51,330 Speaker 2: and wonder where all the good humans have gone. And 89 00:06:51,371 --> 00:06:54,330 Speaker 2: then a stranger finds a wallet in a Walmart parking 90 00:06:54,371 --> 00:06:57,090 Speaker 2: lot and drives it all the way home simply because 91 00:06:57,171 --> 00:07:02,871 Speaker 2: somewhere someone is probably worried sick looking for it. Scripture 92 00:07:02,911 --> 00:07:05,431 Speaker 2: tells us, do to others as you would have them 93 00:07:05,511 --> 00:07:09,191 Speaker 2: do to you. We know this golden rule. Sometimes living 94 00:07:09,211 --> 00:07:12,871 Speaker 2: those words looks less like something grand and more like 95 00:07:12,971 --> 00:07:16,631 Speaker 2: just standing on a stranger's porch with 50 bucks, credit cards, 96 00:07:17,071 --> 00:07:21,741 Speaker 2: and every opportunity to walk away. choosing instead to drive 97 00:07:21,841 --> 00:07:24,881 Speaker 2: all the way across town just to ring the doorbell. 98 00:07:26,591 --> 00:07:30,151 Speaker 2: Cameron didn't know Tyrese. He didn't know his story or 99 00:07:30,211 --> 00:07:33,311 Speaker 2: what that wallet meant to him. He only knew it 100 00:07:33,351 --> 00:07:35,811 Speaker 2: belonged to someone who would be hoping a good person 101 00:07:35,871 --> 00:07:39,851 Speaker 2: found it. And maybe we need stories like this because 102 00:07:39,881 --> 00:07:43,001 Speaker 2: they remind us that good people haven't disappeared. They're still here. 103 00:07:44,461 --> 00:07:47,941 Speaker 2: They're walking through Walmart parking lots, noticing what others have dropped. 104 00:07:48,531 --> 00:07:52,141 Speaker 2: choosing honesty when no one is watching, and carrying a 105 00:07:52,171 --> 00:07:56,121 Speaker 2: stranger's worry all the way back to his front door. Yes, 106 00:07:56,241 --> 00:08:00,481 Speaker 2: there are still good humans in the world. Sometimes they 107 00:08:00,561 --> 00:08:04,561 Speaker 2: even show up wearing an actual smile on their shirt. 108 00:08:06,581 --> 00:08:10,861 Speaker 2: As it says in Hebrews 13, 16, And do not 109 00:08:10,921 --> 00:08:14,341 Speaker 2: forget to do good and to share with others, for 110 00:08:14,381 --> 00:08:20,641 Speaker 2: with such sacrifices God is pleased. We'll be back with 111 00:08:20,681 --> 00:08:33,881 Speaker 2: our second story right after this. Lost wallet stories are 112 00:08:34,001 --> 00:08:38,690 Speaker 2: one thing and can be very heartwarming. But when what 113 00:08:38,751 --> 00:08:44,671 Speaker 2: is lost actually has heartbeats and souls, spirits, and lives 114 00:08:44,711 --> 00:08:47,711 Speaker 2: to be lived, well, the stakes get a little bit higher. 115 00:08:48,931 --> 00:08:52,420 Speaker 2: Our second story today is also from Heather Riggleman, and 116 00:08:52,581 --> 00:08:56,540 Speaker 2: it is about nine students who made it home safe 117 00:08:57,421 --> 00:09:03,910 Speaker 2: after being lost on a Kentucky hiking trail. What began 118 00:09:04,030 --> 00:09:07,751 Speaker 2: as a whim, a Saturday evening hike to watch the 119 00:09:07,810 --> 00:09:12,290 Speaker 2: sunset over Kentucky's Red River Gorge, became a frightening night 120 00:09:12,351 --> 00:09:16,061 Speaker 2: on the mountain for nine college students who suddenly realized 121 00:09:16,561 --> 00:09:20,501 Speaker 2: they had no idea how to get home. The students, 122 00:09:21,241 --> 00:09:25,081 Speaker 2: all from Indiana and Chicago, had set out near the 123 00:09:25,241 --> 00:09:29,521 Speaker 2: Indian Staircase Trail to catch the sunset on August 15th. 124 00:09:30,721 --> 00:09:35,780 Speaker 2: But darkness arrived before they reached their destination. Soon, the 125 00:09:35,841 --> 00:09:40,951 Speaker 2: trail beneath their feet seemed to multiply. We realized we 126 00:09:40,981 --> 00:09:43,711 Speaker 2: have no clue where we are. Trails just kept splitting 127 00:09:43,771 --> 00:09:48,821 Speaker 2: and splitting, hiker Caden Kupczyk said. It was around 9.30 p.m. 128 00:09:50,941 --> 00:09:55,931 Speaker 2: Students had little water, the unofficial trail wasn't maintained by 129 00:09:55,951 --> 00:09:59,211 Speaker 2: the U.S. Forest Service, and trying to find their own 130 00:09:59,251 --> 00:10:04,131 Speaker 2: way down in the dark carried serious risks. Then, hiker 131 00:10:04,191 --> 00:10:08,811 Speaker 2: David Zeranias noticed they were heading toward a cliff, and 132 00:10:08,971 --> 00:10:13,271 Speaker 2: panic began to set in. Instead of pushing forward and 133 00:10:13,311 --> 00:10:17,731 Speaker 2: hoping for the best, they decided to park it and 134 00:10:17,811 --> 00:10:22,561 Speaker 2: call their parents after calling 911. That decision may have 135 00:10:22,611 --> 00:10:27,481 Speaker 2: kept a frightening night from becoming something far worse. The 136 00:10:27,501 --> 00:10:31,221 Speaker 2: Wolf County Search and Rescue Team used coordinates sent from 137 00:10:31,261 --> 00:10:35,081 Speaker 2: the students' phones and then sent them a locator link 138 00:10:35,141 --> 00:10:38,951 Speaker 2: to pinpoint their exact position. But fighting them was only 139 00:10:39,011 --> 00:10:43,371 Speaker 2: half the battle. Getting these teens safely down the Indian 140 00:10:43,431 --> 00:10:49,170 Speaker 2: staircase after dark was so dangerous that rescuers established a 141 00:10:49,251 --> 00:10:54,391 Speaker 2: hand line along the descent. Team members positioned themselves along 142 00:10:54,410 --> 00:10:57,261 Speaker 2: the route and helping guide the students down through the 143 00:10:57,311 --> 00:11:03,570 Speaker 2: darkness one careful step at a time. Around 2 a.m., 144 00:11:04,471 --> 00:11:09,371 Speaker 2: every student and rescuer finally emerged from the trail, and 145 00:11:09,431 --> 00:11:14,481 Speaker 2: the miracle was that no one was injured. God bless them, 146 00:11:14,521 --> 00:11:17,581 Speaker 2: because without them, we probably would have been stuck on 147 00:11:17,621 --> 00:11:22,601 Speaker 2: that mountain till morning, Caden said. The students were so 148 00:11:22,641 --> 00:11:26,081 Speaker 2: grateful that, that they offered to donate to the volunteer 149 00:11:26,131 --> 00:11:30,621 Speaker 2: rescue organization. But rescuers pointed to something important the students 150 00:11:30,641 --> 00:11:34,581 Speaker 2: had done themselves. They knew when to stop trying to 151 00:11:34,660 --> 00:11:36,261 Speaker 2: find their own way. 152 00:11:36,761 --> 00:11:36,961 Speaker 1: Wow. 153 00:11:38,851 --> 00:11:41,950 Speaker 2: They recognized they were in trouble, stopped trying to navigate 154 00:11:42,011 --> 00:11:46,211 Speaker 2: on their own, and called for help. The Wolf County 155 00:11:46,391 --> 00:11:51,741 Speaker 2: Search and Rescue Team shared. It seems so simple, but... 156 00:11:52,851 --> 00:11:57,011 Speaker 2: Do we do that in our own lives? There is 157 00:11:57,051 --> 00:11:59,531 Speaker 2: a lesson tucked into those dark Kentucky woods for the 158 00:11:59,591 --> 00:12:03,570 Speaker 2: rest of us. Sometimes wisdom looks less like knowing the 159 00:12:03,611 --> 00:12:08,251 Speaker 2: way and more like admitting when we don't. There are 160 00:12:08,291 --> 00:12:12,421 Speaker 2: moments when the bravest prayer we can offer is simply, God, 161 00:12:12,461 --> 00:12:14,681 Speaker 2: I don't know how to get out of here. Please 162 00:12:14,701 --> 00:12:18,861 Speaker 2: send someone to find me. And he is still the 163 00:12:18,901 --> 00:12:23,981 Speaker 2: God who meets us in the dark. Like it says 164 00:12:24,061 --> 00:12:27,361 Speaker 2: in Jeremiah 33, 3, call to me and I will 165 00:12:27,421 --> 00:12:32,041 Speaker 2: answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you 166 00:12:32,081 --> 00:12:37,460 Speaker 2: do not know. What's lost is only lost until it 167 00:12:37,541 --> 00:12:44,070 Speaker 2: is found. Those who have lost can win when they 168 00:12:44,131 --> 00:12:48,871 Speaker 2: simply ask for help and accept the great gift of 169 00:12:48,931 --> 00:12:57,541 Speaker 2: salvation and deliverance that has already come. been offered. Thanks 170 00:12:57,581 --> 00:13:01,841 Speaker 2: for listening to this episode of Story Behind Podcast. I 171 00:13:01,881 --> 00:13:05,851 Speaker 2: hope today's stories of lost things and lost people remind 172 00:13:05,881 --> 00:13:08,691 Speaker 2: you of the ways God is still moving in the 173 00:13:08,731 --> 00:13:11,930 Speaker 2: world around us, even if it's just putting in someone's 174 00:13:11,971 --> 00:13:16,141 Speaker 2: heart to do the right or smart thing. You can 175 00:13:16,181 --> 00:13:18,141 Speaker 2: visit the links in the show notes to find the 176 00:13:18,211 --> 00:13:22,910 Speaker 2: original articles, photos, videos, and any resources mentioned in today's 177 00:13:23,011 --> 00:13:28,231 Speaker 2: episodes on the God Updates blog at GodTube.com. If you 178 00:13:28,291 --> 00:13:31,051 Speaker 2: enjoyed these stories, be sure to follow Story Behind wherever 179 00:13:31,091 --> 00:13:33,931 Speaker 2: you listen to podcasts and share it with someone who 180 00:13:33,971 --> 00:13:37,571 Speaker 2: could use a little encouragement. Story Behind is a Life 181 00:13:37,631 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 2: Audio production. For more faith-based podcasts, visit LifeAudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. 182 00:13:45,001 --> 00:13:47,411 Speaker 2: Thanks again for joining me, and we'll see you next 183 00:13:47,471 --> 00:13:49,631 Speaker 2: time on Story Behind.