LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON – A TWIST IN THE TALE

The Prodigal Son thought, the problem is the Father. He thought, “lack” of money is the problem. He thought, every advise of the father, as curbing of his freedom. He thought, every rule and the tradition in the family, is tying his up, as a slave. He desired “freedom.” He desired to do, whatever his heart wanted. He longed to be on his own. He wanted to be a “man” of his own life. Does this logic sound familiar, even after 2000 years? Strange are the ways of human heart.

The prodigal son got his wish granted. He got his “freedom” and his money. He thought he was now on the cusp of greatness…could now, breath freely for the first time, in his life. He thought, he had his life at last, for the first time, in his own hands, and in his own control. He thought, he now could embark on a life, that he always longed for, and the which, he missed so far, by being in the family, and under his father’s authority. What a tragedy, many young men and women think on similar lines even today. Truly a tragedy.

Life would be wonderful, if it was lived the way the prodigal son dreamed and desired. So the son went out of the home to pursue what was “lacking” at his father’s home…
– “13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” – Luke 15:13

Life has its own way of working. There are, many a twists and turns in the tale. So also did the prodigal son experience – A TWIST IN THE TALE…
– “14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.” – Luke 15:14

The harshness of life, when it hits us, makes us do strange things…the lessons that life teaches us…we learn it the hard way. The prodigal son realised that, life and living requires hard work; that, one ought to have work to do, and earn a living. The desertion of “friends” and the lack of money, coupled with the famine, made the prodigal to walk his first real steps, in his life…
– “15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.” – Luke 15:15

The harshness of life, and the cold and commercial nature of the people, made him eat his pride, and not just the food for the pigs…for his survival…
– “16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.” – Luke 15:16

What a fall for this proud and arrogant young man? He thought, all his privileges he enjoyed, while living with his family, under his father’s care, were his entitlements and privileges. The life, when it hits, we are forced to see things in their true colours. So did the prodigal son. He lost his money; his “friends” deserted him; he had nothing, and he was in great need. No one was willing to help. None were caring about his condition. What a fall! Now what about us?