Thoughts on a Parable

Wow, it's been a while since we've talked. I sort of just left you hanging. oops :) Well, I had a wonderful weekend in Iowa. It's crazy how when you are in college, everyone that has graduated tells you that you will miss being in college once you've graduated... but you never really realize how much you actually do miss it until you are telling people that they will miss being in college once they've graduated. Crazy. Just crazy.

So, I was between music therapy sessions at work this afternoon when I decided to play guitar for a bit. I have been working on a song about the parable of the lost son for a few months now. Luke 15:11-32 in song-form. It's been one of those pieces that I just can't seem to get right. The tune is boring, the words don't fit... sometimes I can't find the words at all. After working at it for a while this evening, I finally got frustrated and washed my proverbial hands of the whole thing. It was only then that the Lord found the words for me. I'm finding more and more truth in the fact that once you let go of something, God will do amazing things with it. Well, while I was writing down the lyrics that were spoken to me... I had a bit of a revelation. I will do my best to explain that revelation to you.

In Luke, Jesus tells us of a father who splits his estate evenly between his two sons. The older son is quite responsible with his share of the estate, while the younger son flees to a distant land and squanders his money on the so-called "high life". After wasting away his share of his father's estate and being struck with famine, the younger son recognizes his sinful mistake and realizes it would have been far wiser to stay at home with his father. As the younger son returns, the father and his servants rejoice. The older son quickly grows jealous and is told to join in the celebration for his brother was lost but now is found.

While, I was putting that story into music, I realized that I am the younger son. I escape to distant lands and squander my share of the estate on the "high life". The younger son was given a more than generous gift from his father. He took that gift for granted, and wasted it while seeking happiness in other things. Only later he finds out that the only happiness he needed was at home with his father. It hit me like a brick tonight, how directly that applies to my life! have been given the greatest gift of all (sounds cliche, but it's true) and I continue to search for enjoyment elsewhere. I continue to seek happiness in other things... in relationships, in success, in material things. The gift my Father has given me is eternal life in Christ. Much like the young son, I take that gift for granted and seek fulfillment in other things. Later, I realize my sinful ways and recognize that the only true fulfillment I can ever have is through eternal life in Christ. I have a feeling that, back in the day, the Younger Son and I would have been dating.:)

Now I realize it's possible that others of you may have already had this realization. Perhaps it's not the most original thought... but it was new to me and it is definitely something that I needed to be reminded of.

I hope you are all having great weeks.

Talk soon,
Tempa