Father is Waiting: All Can Be Well

There is hope if we feel lost.

Oddly, the first thing that happens when I say this is for someone to shoot out a message saying they do not feel lost. My response is to be very happy for them. If you are happy with how things are, then my job is not to make you sad. Maybe somebody is called to wake people up to their actual misery, but I think only very great people should do this very often.

The ancient prophet Tiresias was very wise, the king wanted the truth, but the prophet knew he was not ready. Eventually he told Oedipus the truth and the situation went poorly. If God calls you to do this job, then God give you strength.

On the other hand, I have no trouble waking up and realizing: “What have I done? I meant to be having a good time and here I am in pig mud.” Again.

This is rarely because I have asked for my entire inheritance and done some dreadful thing and it is not because (as some atheists claim) my church is constantly putting me on spiritual downers. I don’t pray have mercy because they make me, but because I need it.

Why?

Generally, this is not because my external life is bad. I am an American in the twenty-first century and that comes with many privileges. I love my job and the community where I work. My family is terrific and tonight we will go and enjoy convivial chat with friends. This is good.

Sadly, I know what I should be and also what I am. This is not due to “religion,” but merely thinking. I could be more charitable, love my wife better than I do. Of course, I could just shrug and say “nobody is perfect,” but this is not helpful. I see what could have been, what I could have done, and instead find myself in some pig mud.

Pig mud stinks.

Since we all do some sitting in pig mud, the stink is not so obvious. We get the dramatic trip home. If you are really lost, whatever you have done, Father God is waiting to accept you if you will just own up, be sorry, and start home. He will meet you on the way, but you have to decide pig mud is not for you. Sadly, that is also true when I eat too much, cling to bitterness towards people who hurt my kids, or wallow in any number of piggish practices.

The stink is there.

Today is the Sunday of the Prodigal for many Christians and my pastor (the inimitable Father Richard) pointed out to us that as we live life we mess up, constantly, and so need constant repentance. This is not so we can be sad, we are already sad if we wake up to pig mud. This repentance is so we can feel constant and everliving joy.

I get a bit of this at times, like today. Father gave me communion and I was out of the pig mud and home. Soon I will get up and drive to Dad’s house and my earthly father will greet me . . . an image of my heavenly father. If I am sad, I can be glad. If I am covered in pig mud, I can be clean.

Father is waiting. All can be well. Read the whole story here.