This tale is about a rich father who had two sons. One night he packed a few items and left quietly. The first son awoke and after discovering that his father had left, got to work doing all of the chores for which he was responsible. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years and still no word from the father. Gradually the son began to repress the hurt that came with the father abandoning he and his brother. Instead of dealing with the pain, it began to fester deep in his being. The other son also refused to deal with the pain and took his portion of the inheritance and went abroad. Throughout everything that he did and tried he could not get rid of the fact that his father was gone. One day he realized that he needed to face the fact and returned home with nothing to show for his time gone. He found his brother caring for the property just as when he left and now holding animosity for him since he left. The younger brother didn't care and spent each day with a calf ready to slaughter and his father's robe set out for the day when he returned.
This tale speaks about the reverse of the parable of the lost son. Rollins talks about writing this while at a Quaker meeting and experiencing what it feels like to be in a room of people that are content to wait on God to show up. But one of the mysteries of our faith is that there are times when God does not seem present. Our response to this situation tells about our faith. Do we continue in our 'good' work and harbor ill will towards God? Or do we turn our back on God and begin to do our own thing? Or do we wait patiently for God to return? I think this is a very important thing for us to consider especially in this season of lent as we are coming to terms with our own sinfulness.
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