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How would you feel if you found out you had over $20,000 in unpaid parking fines? That is what happened to Jaime Rodriguez, a schoolteacher in Chicago. Yet, he could not recall incurring the fines!
A little investigation showed it was his 26 year old son, also named Jaimie, who had incurred the fines. So what did Jamie Rodriguez Sr do? He paid the fines, all 109 of them!
When asked about it, he commented, "My stupid kids. They get the tickets and throw them away, and they're thinking they are going to go away." Well, from Jamie Rodriguez Jr's perspective that is exactly what happened, for the fines simply went away ~ thanks to Dad!
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In the Prodigal Son story, in Luke 15, a son demands his inheritance. This was to be his only at the dad's death. To even ask for the inheritance before was a profound act of disrespect to his dad and family. Yet, the dad gives the inheritance to him.
This younger of two sons leaves home. The story gives us no reason to believe the father begged him to stay home. The dad never went looking for his son, either. The dad stays home with the other son, while the younger boy loses all his money and ends up working in the swine industry ~ he disgraced his father, now, as a Jew employed to a Gentile in the pork business, he is disgraced, totally.
Then, the son decides to go back home and confess his defamation of his dad and consequent worthlessness. But the dad surprises him, the same dad he had disgraced so:
The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.
*Luke 15.20
The father is a symbol of Divine Presence, of Grace. The dad loved his son so much, he refused to go looking for the boy. He loved him so, he welcomed him home without referring to how the son had disgraced him. He had never given up hope for the boy's homecoming.
This story teaches a challenging lesson. Sometimes, divine Love must let a person go, and let a person return or not. The only way the younger son could rightly be home is that he had to leave and choose to return, and return a changed young man.
To be like Divine Presence we might be put in a like situation. We might find ourselves called to let someone go and, if the Will of God, welcoming the person back. Regardless, the son was held accountable by himself before returning home, and that same kind of accountability is essential truly to return Home ~ the place of fidelity and Love.
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*The opening story was taken from www.ozsermonillustrations.com ["Boundaries," accessed July 28, 2008].
*OneLife has been a free offering and not asked for donations or fees. However, charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian through the Inquiry below.
*Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox lives with his two beloved dogs, St. Francis and Bandit Ty, in Southwest Florida. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons, along with empathic relating with other world religions, East and West. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry, for all spiritual seekers.
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