The Prodigal Child

Proverbs 27:8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home.

I suppose many children run away at least in their thoughts. I suppose it is not unusual for many children to threaten to run away from home. I imagine it is likely most children will grow up and leave the family house, but the question is what is the relationship when they do so and will they return

I ran away twice the first out of pure disobedience, in full knowledge that I was living a life against the beliefs of the church and a second time due to lack of fellowship and following my mother.But I wonder how many of GOD’s children run away. I think a pretty high number. And He always takes them back. He left a story, a parable, for us to know that he is waiting for us with open arms. Unashamed that He has taken back the child that has soiled His gracious Name and squandered our precious inheritance. He takes us back.

I’ve been that child. Most children rebel when they go to college. While I was rebellious of my earthy parents in college, I still tried to maintain contact with my heavenly Father. It was post-graduation that I chose to seek a different path for myself.

In a new city, I started out, determined to lead a devout life. I even would get up early to attend daily Mass. An attempt, I think, at re-creating the childhood memory of morning Mass before school. One of my most favorite memories. It was not obligatory, it was just a child’s heart wanting to be close to her Father. My mother would watch me walk the two blocks in the dark. And I would start my day with Mass.

Somewhere between eight and twenty-two something called hormones kicked in and distracted me. Oh I had the choice and the knowledge to keep myself from that path. But didn’t make the right decisions.

There was a time after my distractions had left me that I did return (not completely repentant) to the Church. The fellowship that had bound me to Catholicism in college seemed illusive as a married adult. When I move back to where my parents were living I tried to return to the Church I attended during high school. While I was not shunned, I certainly was not drawn in.

My mother had left the Catholic Church in her own version of Martin Luther (although I don’t think she realized what a questionable character Luther was). She was militant and went to an Assemblies of God where the people were close knit, unpretentious and welcoming. So obedient to my earthly parent, I followed.But it seems all my life I have been trying to return to the Church after throwing my spiritual tantrums. It is only today as an adult and a parent, I hear the arrogance of the call I must. “Hello, my name is Julie and I would like to register my family with the parish. Ummm…well yes I am Catholic, but no I haven’t been an active member of a parish in…well…a long time. My children, well no, they haven’t been baptized.” How could I have let it go this long???

An eye-opening book for me is The Cross and the Prodigal by Kenneth E. Bailey. This book explores the timeless parable of the prodigal son in the context of middle-east tradition, custom and beliefs. It looks at not just the son who left home, but also the older son who stayed and even more important the father who goes against all convention and popular cultural wisdom to bring them to their fullest relationship and realization of their true inheritance.

My feet are hurting. I think I will rest in my Father’s House again.

~ by throughadarkglass on August 11, 2007.