You ever find something really cool that you weren’t looking for? Something that never actually crossed your mind to look for? I did. It happened about a week ago. We (my wife, daughter and I) were on our annual hunting trip and were checking out an area we had never hunted in. I saw a little road take off from the main highway and decided it might be worth checking out. Off the road, down a little hill and across a rickety looking single lane metal bridge that I was hoping would withstand the weight of the truck. This thing resembled a cattle guard run lengthwise and, of course, had no railing.
Safely on the other side we continued down the overgrown trail-of-a-road as it got brushier and narrower. At somewhat of a wide spot I stopped to evaluate whether to continue forward or turn around. With a glance over my shoulder something caught my eye. “What in the world?” (I actually said that out loud as I jumped out of the truck) I headed over to the treasure – ok, it was actually a gun but ‘treasure’ sounds a little more suspenseful, don’t you think? Just before kneeling down to pick it up thoughts – cautionary thoughts – ran thru my mind: “what if someone set it down while they are squatting nearby in the trees taking care of some business?” Nah, they would’ve leaned it against a tree! “Maybe it’s a booby trap set by an animal – you know, like ‘hunter bait’ or something” No, that only happens in cartoons! Convinced it was safe I bent down and pried it out of the frost.
I’m not a gun guru but I knew right away what I had in my hands: A lever action Savage 250-3000. I knew this because it was engraved on the barrel. It also had a 3X9 Simmons scope mounted on it. It looked fairly old. Definitely a cool find!
Within a couple hours I was in a gun shop asking the pro’s about my new found treasure. Turns out it had a break-away barrel (a somewhat rare, and not necessarily good, feature) and a brass counter (also a rare feature). It even had the desirable stock which, unfortunately, was cracked and had been shortened to allow for a shoulder pad – but it had it! Turns out this thing was worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $400-$1200! Pretty good find for me, pretty bad loss for someone else.
I got to thinking that, if I had lost this, or any gun, I’d like to get it back. I started wondering if, perhaps, the owner reported it lost? Of course there were conflicting thoughts going thru my mind. You know the type: “Finders keepers, losers weepers”, “They should’ve been more careful – it’s their fault!” “There’s no law that says I have to return it!” I could go on but you get the idea. After hemming and hawing awhile I decided that I’d at least talk to the police and see if it had been reported.
Wouldn’t you know it – as I pulled into the gas station who would be there filling up their rig but a local county Mountie!
As the fuel pumped into my tank I meandered over and explained the situation to the deputy. I let him admire my find and take the model and serial numbers down. I listened as he called it in. Almost instantly I heard the dispatcher respond that a gun matching that description had, indeed, been reported lost in the same area I found this one. The name and number of the owner was given to the deputy who called and informed them their gun had been found. I didn’t talk to the owner and I don’t know the story behind the gun – or how he managed to lose it that morning. What I do know, however, is that he was very happy – ecstatic even – to get it back.
What’s the point? Glad you asked! I don’t find lost guns everyday but I do get to interact with ‘lost’ people. (I’ve got a hunch you do too) I want to be sure I’m making every effort I can to ensure they get back in contact with the ‘rightful owner’. I know He’s ecstatic every time another one comes home…no matter how long they’ve been lost or what kind of damage they’ve sustained. Know what else? It just feels good to do the right thing. Try it, I think you’ll like it!
Pastor Brandon
Mountain View Christian Center 