Contemplating this question this morning; is there anyone or any situation which I would rather view as dead than open my heart or mind to a broader perspective in order to deal with it? The story of the prodigal son prompted the thought. A quick refresher, Luke 15 - critics surround Jesus, they disapprove of Him accepting "sinners" into His presence. Observing their disdain, Jesus tells three stories about the efforts undertaken to find and celebrate the return of lost things.
The Lost Sheep: while leaving the rest of the flock secure, the shepherd goes on an all-out search for a lost sheep, then rejoices when it is found.
The Lost Coin: a woman discovers that a coin (likely a dowery coin) is lost and she turns the house upside down sweeping it out until the coin is found then invites others to celebrate the find with her.
The Lost Son or the Prodigal Son: The son who asks for/demands his inheritance before his father has died. He wantonly and lavishly spends his entire inheritance then is left destitute. Coming to his senses he decides he is better off attached to his father's household even if he has to return as a slave since he assesses that he burned his relational bridges when he left his father's care. He returns in shame but with determination and to his and his brother's surprise the father welcomes him, restores him, celebrates his return since he was lost and is now found and was "dead" but is now alive. The hitch - the older brother resents the celebration, won't acknowledge the goodness of the son's return. In fact, you could say the older bother wishes the younger one had stayed "dead" rather than face the welcome, love and acceptance that he witnesses from his father.
Ultimately the older son appears to think: How could he accept "him"? I deserve a celebration for my fidelity? I would rather that son of his have stayed "dead" than to even consider accepting him back.
Thus the question: what issues do I have that I would rather stay buried than deal with? What skeletons do I have in my closet that need the light of day shed on them? What burden am I carrying, likely silently, but that strongly influences my perceptions, limits my openness, hinders my acceptance or welcome of others into the fold? What won't I celebrate?
It is going to take some pondering to find my own answers. I can see the skeletons in others closets pretty clearly. Sometimes I have difficulty admitting my own. Even as I write this I am thinking of every closet in my house and the hidden contents within them. I am no Marie Kondo follower. My closets seriously lack organization, they have tons of stuff hidden, buried, and stashed. I have found that I, emotionally, lock away stuff in my heart that leaves it looking a lot like my household closets. The outcome is clutter, stuff not dealt with, hidden hurts, and stashed memories that need a new perspective.
It is a good day to take the Serenity Prayer to heart and apply it to that which I wish was dead, but is still very much alive.
The Lost Sheep: while leaving the rest of the flock secure, the shepherd goes on an all-out search for a lost sheep, then rejoices when it is found.
The Lost Coin: a woman discovers that a coin (likely a dowery coin) is lost and she turns the house upside down sweeping it out until the coin is found then invites others to celebrate the find with her.
The Lost Son or the Prodigal Son: The son who asks for/demands his inheritance before his father has died. He wantonly and lavishly spends his entire inheritance then is left destitute. Coming to his senses he decides he is better off attached to his father's household even if he has to return as a slave since he assesses that he burned his relational bridges when he left his father's care. He returns in shame but with determination and to his and his brother's surprise the father welcomes him, restores him, celebrates his return since he was lost and is now found and was "dead" but is now alive. The hitch - the older brother resents the celebration, won't acknowledge the goodness of the son's return. In fact, you could say the older bother wishes the younger one had stayed "dead" rather than face the welcome, love and acceptance that he witnesses from his father.
Ultimately the older son appears to think: How could he accept "him"? I deserve a celebration for my fidelity? I would rather that son of his have stayed "dead" than to even consider accepting him back.Thus the question: what issues do I have that I would rather stay buried than deal with? What skeletons do I have in my closet that need the light of day shed on them? What burden am I carrying, likely silently, but that strongly influences my perceptions, limits my openness, hinders my acceptance or welcome of others into the fold? What won't I celebrate?
It is going to take some pondering to find my own answers. I can see the skeletons in others closets pretty clearly. Sometimes I have difficulty admitting my own. Even as I write this I am thinking of every closet in my house and the hidden contents within them. I am no Marie Kondo follower. My closets seriously lack organization, they have tons of stuff hidden, buried, and stashed. I have found that I, emotionally, lock away stuff in my heart that leaves it looking a lot like my household closets. The outcome is clutter, stuff not dealt with, hidden hurts, and stashed memories that need a new perspective.
It is a good day to take the Serenity Prayer to heart and apply it to that which I wish was dead, but is still very much alive.
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