Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa contributor and 101.7 The River co-host "Brother" Scott McCown has a few thoughts after a crazy night at our Skyland Boulevard studios. One of us lost their keys, and that usually causes all of us to lose our minds. Total and complete panic. Right?

Get our free mobile app

Thanks, guys.

I recently lost something important: one key. And of all the keys to lose, it was the one to the church building.

I realized it was missing when I got home after a long day. I had arrived at the building at 6:45 that morning, using an access code to get in, and stayed until about 2:30. From there, I went to the radio station where I co-host a show a couple of evenings each week.

While at the station, I reached into my pocket for my knife and noticed my key ring was open. I closed it and didn’t think much about it. But when I got home around 6:30 in the evening and emptied my pockets, one key fell to the floor. Another key and a USB drive were loose in my pocket. The church key, however, was nowhere to be found.

One thing I knew for certain: keys don’t grow legs and walk away. I had dropped it somewhere.

Amy and I started searching the house: no key. She checked the garage and my truck while I rechecked my pockets: still no key.

I texted my radio co-hosts, Holli Mack and DC, and asked them to look around the studio. Being the good friends they are, they searched the building, the couches, the chairs, and even the parking area. No key.

Amy and I then went to the church building and retraced my steps: my office, study, college area, auditorium, kitchen, foyers, and even the parking lot. A college student there said he’d keep an eye out. Still no key.

Just to be sure, I drove back to the radio station, checked again, and spoke with the custodian. No key.

At that point, it seemed clear: the key was gone.

We went home and checked everything again: the garage, the truck, every place I’d walked in the house. Nothing.

Finally, I went to put my wallet and keys where they belong. And there it was - the missing key - sitting all by itself in the very place I always keep my keys. It had been there all along. Apparently, it had fallen off the ring that morning when I grabbed my keys on the way out the door.

Amy and I rejoiced. I texted Holli Mack and DC to let them know, and they rejoiced with us. I even got a “hallelujah” from Holli Mack.

The whole experience reminded me of the woman and the lost coin in the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10). Jesus teaches that God seeks the lost (the misplaced) and when what is lost is found, there is great rejoicing in heaven.

And apparently… a little rejoicing on earth too.