Realizing Harmony

I had never questioned who the Prodigal was in the story of The Prodigal Son. I just “knew” that the Prodigal was the wayward one, the rebellious one, the wanderer, the derelict, the outcast of his own making. He had done the unthinkable in asking for his inheritance early, and he’d gone away and disgraced himself in how he squandered it. He had made himself unlovable, at least in his own eyes.

His older brother had stayed home, and been a “good boy” – faithfully doing all his chores and helping out around the house. He was obedient, compliant, reliable, careful, stable, and loved.

We all know the story.

Or do we?

I’ve often seen myself as more similar to the younger son, the “Prodigal” – wayward, rebellious, wandering, somewhat of a derelict, and an outcast who can largely only blame himself.

Then, last week I received and started reading a book from my oldest brother. It’s called “He Loves Me! Learning to Live in the Father’s Affection.”

I was a bit nervous to read it, given the strained relationship I have had with my own father for as long as I can remember. Nevertheless, I picked it up and began to read.

In chapter 4 after summarizing the story, Wayne Jacobsen wrote (pg 26):

Traditionally this story is called “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” and is one of Jesus’ most poignant tales. It has been told and retold because it is so easy to identify with the son and the mercy he received in spite of his arrogance and stupidity.

By focusing on the prodigal son, however, we lose the central lesson of the parable. He was only one of two brothers, each dealing with an estrangement from their father, albeit in vastly different ways.

The central character is the father himself, and for that reason I wish it were called “The Parable of the Incredible Father.” For Jesus used this story to paint a portrait of his Father, and believe me, this is like no father you’ve ever known.

He goes on to describe how unusual this Father is. And how amazing his love is. He asks, “In this incredible story, when do you think the father loved his son the most?”

Was it the moment the father met the son on the road?

Was it when he gave the son his inheritance and let him go?

The truth is, it’s an impossible question to answer because the father’s love was unwavering. At no point in the story did he love his son any less than at any other time.

But the son… he perceived his father’s love to be varying. And I think that’s what I (we) resonate with.

It’s almost unthinkable and/or unbelievable that we could be loved so consistently and unconditionally.

I know I’ve never experienced that in my relationship with my own father. (Didn’t Jacobsen say the father in the story is unlike any father we’ve ever known?) Yet that’s the kind of love we all long for. And some of us would be thrilled to experience even a faint imitation of that kind of love.

So, I’d been reading that, and then yesterday morning at Highway Community the message was titled “The Prodigal Father.” I thought, “This is gonna be different!”

And it was.

Right near the beginning of the message we were given the TRUE definition of “prodigal.”

It turns out a “prodigal” isn’t one who is wayward, rebellious, a wanderer, a derelict, or outcast of his own making.

Here are some of the definitions from the dictionary:

recklessly extravagant
giving or yielding profusely; lavish
lavishly abundant; profuse

WOW! THAT’s different! It’s amazing the difference when you understand the real meaning of words that are somewhat commonly used.

Suddenly I can see how the story really could be called “The Prodigal Father.” It really is a story about a father’s love for BOTH of his sons. It illustrates recklessly extravagant, lavishly abundant, and profuse love being shown to both sons, and the sons’ unwillingness and/or inability to accept such love as it’s given.

Knowing the true meaning of “prodigal”, I now realize I have not been a prodigal. But I’m trying to learn to accept my prodigal God’s love.