[Luke 15:11 - 24]
"A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me. So he distributed the assets to them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living."
Everyone loses their head once in a while. We do silly, foolish things. I'm horrible about paying bills on time. I get busy, I forget, and then there's this overwhelming sense of guilt when I have to fork over the money for a fee. So, that twenty dollar skirt from Kohls becomes $50.
Then there are more serious incidences of foolishness... like texting while driving, stealing from work, or engaging in substance abuse.
And finally, there is that moment when foolishness takes us to a point where we feel we can never return. I heard a story once about a father who got a call from work while taking his infant son to the doctor. He made a brief stop at work, only to be stuck there for two hours. As he was leaving the building, he suddenly realized that he had left his infant son in the car. The child didn't make it.
It's so common to think that our moments of foolishness have taken us to a place from which we can never expect to return. We reach out for affirmation...from a spouse, from a boss, from a parent, even from our own children. Sometimes, however, the feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness are overwhelming.
"After he spent everything, a severe famine struck the country and he had nothing. Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill himself from the [pig food], but no one would give him any."
The consequences of foolishness can lead us to believe that we are unworthy of anything good. People settle for the meagerest portions. Some choose to ignore their dreams in favor of a safer road, free from the embarrassment of failure. Some end up in unfulfilled relationships because they feel they can't do any better. The result is a life of circles...circling around, trying to find fulfillment in less than what was intended for us.
"When he came to his senses, he said How many of my father's hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I'll get up, go to my father, and say, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands."
The difference between strength and weakness is not wisdom. True strength lies in our ability to get up after we fall (even if it's a deafening THUD!). It's okay to admit our weakness and it's okay to ask for help. What do we really stand to lose?
"But when his son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him..."
When life seems empty, and nothing will fill the deepest void (the void no one knows about), the creator of mankind is standing off at a distance, waiting for you to come home. All it takes is one step in his direction, and He will come running full speed to your rescue...
"...the father said, Let's celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found!"
With all our foolish steps in life, perhaps that first step toward God will be the best leap of faith we will ever take.
