The Journey Home

As long as we have breath we still have time to come back.

I’ve noticed a trend over the last couple of years that has given me a bit of hope.  People (though it is still a small minority) are returning to “belief in something greater.”   In some places, it has become “okay” to talk about God and religion again.   There’s a resurgence of people realizing there is a difference between good and evil, truth and lies, and darkness and light. 

I can’t count how many times I’ve heard podcasters and talk show hosts say something like, “we are in a spiritual battle.”

Recently I heard a friend state something to the effect of, “our family has returned to church after 15 years!” 

This statement caused me to reflect on the story of the Prodigal Son in the Christian New Testament and I realized that this story can pertain to much more than just going back to church.  It can also inspire us to reconcile with people we know are worth keeping in our lives.   It could be a family member, a dear friend, or yes, it could be God.

“²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”  Luke 15:  21-22

For those who don’t know this story, essentially, the eldest heir in the family demanded he receive his inheritance from his father.   The son left home and squandered every dime he received.   He spent his money “living the dream.”  He spent every dime on prostitutes, booze, and a lavish lifestyle… until the money was gone.  He got to the point where even what hogs were being fed looked good to him because he was so hungry.  He thought, “I’ll go home and reconcile with my father.  Even if I end up as one of his servants, I will have it better than I do now!”

The son found the courage to go home and reconcile with his father.  It could not have been an easy decision.  Ego, shame, lack of belief, doubt, and paranoia were probably just a few of the emotions he felt as he began his trek home.  I can imagine him thinking the worst about the situation.  Even to the point of thinking that his father may just reject him outright or maybe even have him killed. 

This story always makes me tear up.  You see, I haven’t always been a good person either.  Oh, I wasn’t malicious or evil.  I was just selfish and thoughtless for a good portion of my life.  In my zeal to “live my own life” I let those who love me go to the back of the line.  I destroyed many relationships with people I really do love and, more importantly, my relationship with my Christian belief system.  

I realized only a few years ago that this is no way to live and I, like the prodigal son, began the trek home.  

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through my own experience, it is this very important lesson:  What we assume someone else thinks about us is almost 100 percent of the time completely false. 

Our journey back to God, family, and friends requires us to shed our assumptions, our doubts, and our fears.  It requires us to dig deep within ourselves to find courage we did not know we had. It demands a repentance for wrongs.  It also requires humbleness.  We must come to the realization that we cannot always live this life alone.  We need support from some of the good people in our lives.  And, yes, it is a good idea to have a belief system as well.  For me, that is Christianity.

The thing I noticed most when I got back from my selfish and thoughtless journey is that I was accepted and loved regardless of the mistakes I made.  None of the fears or assumptions I had were true at all.  God, and those people I left by the wayside not only welcomed me back, but they welcomed me back in ways I never expected.   The “soul cleansing” that can only come through true love and acceptance has left me speechless.   The unconditional love of family and, more importantly of God, knows no bounds.

The nightmare of 2020 caused many of us to go our own way.  It was perfectly designed behind a façade that only served to cause us to make the divide between ourselves and our spiritual belief system and our loved ones that much greater.  

If you have been a “Prodigal Person” it might be time to muster the courage to start the trek back home.  You may be delightfully surprised by what you find!

"When wounds are healed by love, the scars are beautiful." David Bowles