In studying "Come, follow Me" recently, I learned some new to me
things about the Prodigal Son. I have always been impressed by te love
and hope the father displayed as he watched for the return of his
wayward son and then ran to greet him when he saw him afar off. What I
did not know before is that there is a ceremony, Kezazah, that a village
would do when someone betrayed his heritage and family. The village
elders wold throw down a pot in front of the offender. The broken pot
would symbolize the broken relationship that now existed separating the
sinner from his village and his family. He no longer belonged. The
father ran to greet his son before the ceremony could be performed.
Older men of any social status never ran. It was beneath their
dignity. It was shameful. But this father took on social shame to reach
his son and acknowledge him with love before the community could shame
and disown him. Men didn't kiss family members in public, either. The
father kissed his son. Therefore the father took the shame and spared
his son. His love for his son was more important than social stigma.
He claimed his son so the village could not disown him. He restored his
son to the family. The older, fiathful son was not displaced, nor his
inheritance reduced to give his brother. Everything the father owned
was to be his. The prodigal son had squandered his inheritance, but he
could return home, recieve love and support, and work to rebuild his
future.
Our Heavenly Father watches for us. Our Savior
took on punishment, shame, and suffering to spare us if we will "come to
ourselves", come to our senses and repent.
I was also struck by the rich man who wanted to know what he needed to
do to gain eternal life. Jesus listed some commandments. The young man
said he had obeyed them all his life. Then he asked, "What lack I
yet?" What faith and courage he showed. Many of us are afraid to ask
"What lack I yet?" Afraid the Lord will ask more than we want to give.
The young man went away sorrowing. We don't know what happened later. I
like to think that after some wrestling with his feelings the young man
obeyed. Would I? Maybe rather than ask "What lack I yet?", we might
ask what one thing the Lord would have us change to help us grow closer
to Him.
It is almost impossible to get my
Sacramento area family all together. And we didn't this weekend
either. But we of the Patch, David & Teresa, and the Hinds got
together to Picnic and Play at Tahoe Park Saturday. I think that David
spent the whole time with littles at the play area or simply following
Peter. Three year old Peter loves to walk. The various uncles spelled
each other simply following him. He walked over to another family's
picnic a couple of times. Came away with a candy on a stick once. He
did have a watchful uncle in tow and they looked like a nice family with
about 6 little kids. It was refreshing to sit under the trees and blue
skies with big fluffy clouds while the kids enjoyed the playground.
Esther sat and chatted with Teresa until Tom told her to go to the
playground and be a kid.
