Breathing Into…..“Truth and Acceptance… Forgiveness”

Story of the  Prodigal Son-s,

2 Corinthians 5: 16-21, Pslam 32 Breathing In…..

You know, I don't even make it into this story...an oversight I'm sure....although maybe Jesus knew it was a much better way to tell the story to get the  attention of those Pharisees and scribes….those who think themselves righteous, embedded in their hierarchies…

better not to distract them into the wrong debate at this ripe time by including my story at mother in this story of father.  

But I was there to see it all play out over many months....a drama of great proportions. 

Isn't it amazing.....both my sons seemed to squander what was theirs....one on fun....and one on seriousness. 
              They both took our love for granted....well, what they took for granted was their inheritance…..not understanding their true inheritance at all!  One wanted to be treated fairly up front and one wanted to be treated fairly in the end. 

Each one suffered...yes, suffered...the consequences of their own decisions. 
            Do you have any idea how hard it was to watch my young son just walk down that road and keep walking.....without running after him to save him from himself......and if I had tried to stop him, wouldn't that have made it even worse? 

Do you have any idea how hard it was to watch my elder son walk into those fields each day working and working without enjoying the life that was his.....not even able to see it! 

And if I had said anything.....have you ever tried giving advice to someone who doesn't want it....let alone someone who does! 

It's all in the timing.  God's timing for us and the timing of our lives....it's all in the timing.....what we will hear. You see, we love them so much there is nothing we wouldn't do for them....

in fact, we love them so much there are some things we just won't do for them....because we know....they have to be ready....and we can't live their lives for them. 

God can't live our lives for us.  We wouldn’t accept that….I let them live their lives.  I did nothing.  Well, that's not exactly true. 

Their father and I did much.  

We waited.....with open hearts.....for each one to come home......at long last. 

You know what I wish. 

I mean, after seeing my husband's joy at our young son's return and our elder son's anger sensing it just wasn't fair....you know what I wish for both of them? 

I wish my young son could have known his father watched for him everyday. 

I wish my elder son could have seen his father watching, waiting for him to come in from the fields everyday, too. 

But I know our younger son wasn't ready to accept his father's love until he was. 

And I know that even though father stood before our elder son, he couldn't even see him at all....until he could…you know the story doesn’t end where Jesus stopped telling it….of course, our elder son lashed out, annoyed, but in time he came back home, too. 

Nonetheless, Father was there for each of them able to withstand shame and anger.

They both rebelled against life. They both denied love... neither one of them understood it.      And they both returned to love.....in their own timing, in their own way.
       Their father's love restored both of them to their rightful inheritance....the love of family and the love of self......a sense of real self-worth.

And I wonder what each of my boys will do with this new found sense of self? 

I wonder how they will be different now that each one knows they are fully accepted and set free by a love so deep it cannot be sabotaged?

I wonder.....I wonder if they will just end up annoyed! 

Annoying grace.....You know, annoyed because now that they see things more fully, they just may have to make some changes in how they choose to live their lives.....no more same old, same old.

Will my elder son be able to lighten up, enjoy what has always been his, put his energy into people instead of work?

Will my younger son be able to find fulfillment in the simple of things of life and look to the long view of things?

I wonder.  I know they are reconciled to themselves, to the family.   What about you?

Ah…you see, the party was not for the son…either of them.  The party is the father’s celebration.  The father is celebrating his good fortune, not his son’s. 

We assume God is here to serve us.  We assume this worships service is supposed to meet our needs, but it is not.  This is a service of our father’s celebration….for we have been lost and we are found….we are here today!  A worship party for God and some truth and acceptance for us.

Whine and complain as we may about our lives…maybe rightfully so, the point is not what we don’t have, our mistakes, our shortcomings, misjudgments, being on the short end….the point is we are loved and that makes all things possible….we find ourselves…new creations….we can….will you?

Right now…just as you are…you are a new creation!  So, your life? 

So…get over it!  Grow up…again…in God! 

Be re-created!  Come home.  Breathe!

We may be rebellious prodigals who have to find their way home, or judgmental elder siblings who have forgotten what a blessing it is to be home,
but the goal of Christian life is not to become a better son/daughter. 

The goal is to become like the father. 
We are not to remain a child, but to grow up. 

To grow up, you have to be willing to see the truth of your ways and accept yourself the way you are, for what you are…and then join with the father…
           begin to reconcile your ways with your words, your faith with your facts…
             begin to make conscious, aware choices.

The point of Jesus’ story is how much God cares and who God cares about:  everyone!  You! 
         Think about yourself and the little and big choices you are making and who it is you are hanging out with or not. 

Think about God. 
         Gods ways are not our ways…thank God! 
Who else graciously and joyfully welcomes us back from your most devastating screw ups? 

Who else loves you when you are unlovable, gladly giving you affection? 
           Prodigal love means loving God’s way…over the top and against all instinct and logic. 
              You can leave your usual point of view, human perspective behind. 

You no longer HAVE to think about life the way you have been thinking about it. 

Justify yourself the way you’ve been trying to justify yourself. 
           All that the father has is already yours….You can become new.  Jesus tells us so. 

Prodigal love is being able to welcome all without counting the cost or getting hung up on pride or ego. 
          It begins with accepting the truth about yourself and extending acceptance to others…making you an ambassador of new life…bringing a breath of fresh air to life! 

In the name of love and reconciliation, are you willing to see the new creation before your very eyes….that one in the mirror?!

To be able to love in this way, you have to look lovingly at yourself first….be self-aware, let your heart take courage, believe in second chances and accept your truths and love yourself just the same. 
             No blame.  No shame.  Self-forgiveness…hard to do…..yes, God’s grace can be pretty annoying!
            Who’s In Heaven…Prodigals!
        I was shocked, confused, bewildered As I entered Heaven's door, Not by the beauty of it all, Nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp-- The thieves, the liars, the sinners, The alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade Who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought Was rotting away in hell, Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal? I would love to hear Your take. How'd all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake. 'And why is everyone so quiet, So somber - give me a clue.'
        'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock. No one thought they'd be seeing you.' JUDGE NOT!!

Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.
Every saint has a PAST... Every sinner has a FUTURE! Now it's your turn...