Well, I had been going to go to sleep, but this is more important.

(From way back at Bethel)

So, on Saturday we set up at a church in preparation for the 'morrow and went to a Baymont Inn to sleep.  (It was really nice).  I had been wearing my new necklace that I had bought.  As usual for that necklace, I took it off before showering.  I set it on the nightstand with my hair-elastic.
 Bus call was 9:00 the next morning.  I set my alarm for 8.  There was a wake-up call (very loud and obnoxious ringing) shortly after 7:30.  We made it shut-up and went back to sleep.  Timing was bad.  I woke up, looked at my cell that had made its way from on top of my computer to right next to my hand and freaked--"8:52!"  I was up.  I alerted my sleeping roomy to the time.  We were dressed and downstairs on the bus by 9:06.  We went, we sang, we ate (lunch was delicious.  I was very hungry) and packed up. And then I realized, I don't have my necklace. 
It was not a happy thought.  But I realized something else.  Ultimately, it was a piece of jewelry, I liked it, I bought it, but --it's a piece of jewelry.  So, I talked to God about it.  It turned out someone else left a mac, so Peter was going to go back to the hotel to ask after that.  I asked him to ask about my necklace. 
The mac was "not found," (rumour chain info) but I heard nothing about the necklace.  I released it.  It was fine, I mean, I was wearing the necklace Samuel gave me (turquoise cross) and that's the main one I wear. 
We sang, shouted, I lost my voice a bit (it's mostly back, courtesy of being not particularly loquacious).  We came back to campus and began to unload.  I went to open the van to pull out the light stuff in there, and Peter handed me a small clear-ish bag with a stiff paper in it, "Here, this is for you." 
"Ok, thanks."  but my voice went from "ok" to "thanks!"  (as much as scratchiness would allow).  The bag held my compass necklace!  I thanked God also.  I was pretty tickled.

Tonight, I was in a poetical-philosophical mood.  Earlier I had thought slipping....hmmm.....<insert image of page with scrolling illegible words>....slipping and since I was on facebook (randomly), I opened a note and started typing (edited and posted it).  Anyway.
While showering, I poeticized about humanity and grace and the cross, and as I scrubbed I heard a "ting!"  I looked around and saw nothing.  Then I saw my chain hanging.  Then I saw it was not broken but the cross was gone.  Teaches me to wear jewelry to shower.  But I've never--almost never taken it off for anything! Why this time . . . but I couldn't find it around the drain or in the shower. I had just dealt with a similar situation--but this was different. 
This was my cross.  I could feel it or see it and it served as a reminder of The Cross.  That's partly why I liked to wear it.  Again, I realized it was still an ornament, a piece of jewelry, but I told God that it was still different and special because my brother gave it me, and I wanted it back.  I don't know where my other cross is, and I suppose I could get a replacement, but this one was more special--it's the one my brother gave me. 
A thought niggled forward in my brain.  Last week, I was impressed that I needed to deal with my concept of personal property.  Not that God was sitting up there saying, "you need need to deal with this, so--let's see--unclasp now and--ha!--down it goes into the drain!  Now what are you going to do?"  But, thinking of it, I've been risking that happening all these years (not thinking of it, but, still).  Anyway, it was an opportunity to act.
What could I do?  I guess I could send maintenance an e-mail. . . .Ok.  whether it gets results or not, I can do that.  and if you do find a little silver and turquoise (light blue-ish) cross, could you--first sanitize!--return it?  Then i told God that I realized I didn't have to have it and moved on--poeticizing about sin and judgement and forgiveness and mercy between people because the mercy God has given as I dried up and began to gather the shower stuff to leave.
Then I saw it.  On the tiles outside the shower was that little cross.  Lord!  you really are merciful!  Thank you, Lord.  I...just, thanks! I stooped and picked it up. 
How like God.  He knew I valued it more than I would value a replacement.  He also knew that I needed to realize that I didn't need it or any thing aside from Him.  He let it vanish, long enough for me to realize it and long enough for me to surrender it to Him.  Then God showed that it hadn't disappeared into the abysmal sewage, but had just gone out of sight for a moment.  
Then I almost cried, now I did shed a few tears. In any case, as I wear that necklace, I will remember, it is a gift from God, too.