Parable Reflection

Most of us have read the story of the Prodigal Son. Son leaves. Son takes the inheritance. Son finds famine. Son returns. End of story. Right? No, actually the story has as much to do with the older brother. The one that refuseed to join the welcome home party. It is a reminder that kindness isn't simply doing the right thing. You can stay in church more than the piano and the pews. You can go on every retreat and lockin offered and still miss out on the whole point. Such was the case of the older brother, he was "me-focused." He showed little kindness when he saw the young brother return home. In fact it made him extremely angry. He felt nothing but contempt for him. This was not the case with the father. He ran to meet his son.

Christianity is not a set of rules. Christianity is not an attendance sheet. Christianity is a new life that breathes the air of holiness and finds it the only way to real life. Christianity is the unexpected kindness of Jesus and wanting to share it with everyone. It is an celebration of our own zero-ness in comparison to Christ's everything-ness. But the big word here is celebrate. To live out the kindness of Christ in our own life is to celebrate the God who welcomes back lost children and throws a lifelong party.

Surrounded by the storms of the day-to-day,I know not another with a still small voice and strength that keeps the earth on its axis speak. O voice of God! Crush my ambition and feeble techniques of survival. Purge me from the fears. Give me a wild, overpowering lust for holiness. Sharpen my appetite for living water that cools my hopeless thirst.