Serena
The Prodigal Returns After the Party
Posted on: 12/16/2010 15:14
So here we are at my favourite parable again. I can't post the link to the parable on my blackberry.
My favourite line of the song "I will arise and go back to my father's house"
We know the father went to meet him. We know the brother didn't go to the party.
I am wondering how things were after the party. Certainly the prodigal worked for a living. Did he forget the skills for his job? Did his friends talk to him or were they snobs? How was the great homecoming say a month later?
What do u guys think?
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redbaron338
Interesting question,
Posted on: 12/16/2010 15:39
Interesting question, Serena. I'd guess that about a month afterward, there was still a period of 'adjustment' going on... The family had adjusted to being without him, now it (family, friends, etc) had to get used to him being back again, maybe quietly wondering to themselves how long it would be until he took off again... I would think that after awhile it would settle down into a routine. It would never be like it was before he left, but would still be workable. At least I would hope so.
As far as job skills, well, at least he'd learned how to feed animals. That should have come in handy at some point...
SG
Serena, You said, "we know
Posted on: 12/16/2010 16:01
Serena,
You said, "we know the brother didn't go to the party."
Where in the story do you read the older son DID NOT go in to the party?You may decide he did not, but is it written there or a given that he did not?
I read he got pissed and refused and dad went out and talked to him. We are not told what the son's response to dad's talk was, are we?
In finishing the story, because it is not finished in the parable, the older brother could decide to skip the party. He could hear his dad and say, "what a fool I have been." and go right in. He could listen and dad go in and him sit and decide he is being self centred and silly and he could go in. It may be right after his dad spoke to him, maybe after a few speeches, maybe at dinner... maybe he sits and broods, feels left out, grumbles, bitches about what his no-good brother got and he is so hard done by...
In my envisioning an ending, he would likely always go in. (I say likely, because for some illustrations I might need him to stay outside the party). For me, the parable is about the love of God and well, pollyanna me, always has it accepted.
The homecoming, for me, is not about the party. It is about the love. So,a week, a month, a year... the party does not really end. The younger brother may have retained his job skills or may need to learn new ones. That loving father will help. I would think that each person took his behaviour and his leaving differently. He would have to change what he could and accept what he could not. The loving father would be there. The homecoming is always what we make of it or allow to have made for us, isn't it?
crazyheart
I am always surprised that
Posted on: 12/16/2010 17:15
I am always surprised that people are surprised that the father ran out to meet the wayward son. Why are we surprised? Wouldn't we all?
Serena
redbaron338
Posted on: 12/16/2010 20:38
Interesting question, Serena. I'd guess that about a month afterward, there was still a period of 'adjustment' going on... The family had adjusted to being without him, now it (family, friends, etc) had to get used to him being back again, maybe quietly wondering to themselves how long it would be until he took off again... I would think that after awhile it would settle down into a routine. It would never be like it was before he left, but would still be workable. At least I would hope so.
As far as job skills, well, at least he'd learned how to feed animals. That should have come in handy at some point...
Well ya, like the father made it very clear that everything he had belonged to the oldest son. There were consequences to the younger son's actions.
I don't know. Maybe credit card debt? Or maybe health problems related to his not taking care of himself. The bruises on his heart from being abandoned by his new friends when he was broke. Then there is the whole trust issue. Is he going to run off again?
jon71
I always looked at it as an
Posted on: 12/17/2010 04:46
I always looked at it as an illustration of how powerful and unconditional our Heavenly father's love is, the way Earthly fathers and mothers should love their children.
WaterBuoy
He ain't heavy ... just my
Posted on: 12/17/2010 08:23
He ain't heavy ... just my brother ... makes him subliminal like the soul .... just below the horizon ... cause people tend to chose the darkness ... emotional responses instead of rational?
ID's a Roman gift to humanity, one embedded hard to shake ... love (God) is something that will divide families, mothers, fathers and siblings ... if we don't learn something in the processing (how we disperse ID)! Creation left out the soul ... for such primal desires appear to darkness ... a kind of primal guilt about learning God's Job? Hot A'Dam ... just fell upon the dirt---Milton's Theosis?
Serena
SG wrote: Serena, You said,
Posted on: 12/18/2010 01:35
Serena,
You said, "we know the brother didn't go to the party."
Where in the story do you read the older son DID NOT go in to the party?You may decide he did not, but is it written there or a given that he did not?
That is correct. We don't know for sure.
The homecoming, for me, is not about the party. It is about the love. So,a week, a month, a year... the party does not really end. The younger brother may have retained his job skills or may need to learn new ones. That loving father will help. I would think that each person took his behaviour and his leaving differently. He would have to change what he could and accept what he could not. The loving father would be there. The homecoming is always what we make of it or allow to have made for us, isn't it?
See for me the homecoming or the party or whatever could be full of hope but then real life sets in and the party fades and maybe his life of sin looked good again? Maybe he remembered why he left his family in the first place? Maybe his Father was always favouring his brother or he had no friends etc. I don't know I just wonder if after the son was back for a month or two he realized why he left in the first place,
Berserk
In his children's sermon, a
Posted on: 12/18/2010 01:42
In his children's sermon, a pastor asked the children, "Who was sorry to see the prodigal son return?" One little boy replied, "The fatted calf."
WaterBuoy
That's Hei' ferrous irony
Posted on: 12/18/2010 11:59
That's Hei' ferrous irony heh! Like Pota ferrous in Pharoah's realm ... pure stirred caldron ...MacBeth's kettle of fish? Primal stew we're in ...
We're not? Have the blind to emotions in a monotonous way looked about and beyond them's elphe?
Did you know that monotonous is akin to binotonus; and old expression relating to two similar notes continuing in the same tone without cadence? Boring religion to death ... as monotheistic ... something got to fall ... change ... evolve?
Come on soul and spirit ... two heads together ... lets get out of here and leave the stoned buol behind as fecund for another try ... Maas I've expansionist terms ... imp loose 'n?
Serena
crazyheart wrote: I am always
Posted on: 12/19/2010 15:27
I am always surprised that people are surprised that the father ran out to meet the wayward son. Why are we surprised? Wouldn't we all?
I was surprised that the Father did not go out searching for the son. Surely He knew that his son was in danger.
Serena
Beshpin wrote: Well, I think
Posted on: 12/19/2010 15:29
Well, I think it has a lot more to do with people's assumptions that we live in a just world, where people who make poor decisions should feel the consequences of their actions and those who do what they are obligated and required to do find the benefits of doing so.
Yes. Saying sorry does not erase consequences nor should it. The Father did not give his youngest son anymore money when he came home. I am actually surprise the Father gave him his money at all.
WaterBuoy
Is there a much deeper
Posted on: 12/20/2010 10:08
Is there a much deeper lesson ... about current "c"?
Could one learn under the power of Light? Did the mystery give us light to see? (Genesis 1:1)
Then mortals would sooner kick you while you're down, it is appropriate way of hate for the alien eh! God is not really revered here ... all fabric of the lie ... if you can grasp the metaphor! Nothing is simple folk, the balance is very complex ...
jon71
Serena wrote: crazyheart
Posted on: 12/23/2010 08:02
I am always surprised that people are surprised that the father ran out to meet the wayward son. Why are we surprised? Wouldn't we all?
I was surprised that the Father did not go out searching for the son. Surely He knew that his son was in danger.
Perhaps he knew that until the son was ready to come home it wouldn't do any good. Sometimes a person will just dig their heels in and resist doing the sensible thing for reasons of pride, stubborness, whatever.
airclean33
Hi -Serena--- I Believe that
Posted on: 12/23/2010 11:03
Hi -Serena--- I Believe that the old brother forgave His youger Brother . For that is the way of Brothers .I am the youngs of 3-Brothers ,my fleash brothers are possibly the only men on earth I would forgive anything. I could see the older Brother saying.I now have all things . For the Father has given them to me.But you are my Brother and as I am one with the Father. You shell be one and what I have , belongs to us, and He would go into the house and make a place for his Borther.For is the older Brother not of his Father?God Bless-- Brother --or sister if you want. --airclean33
Serena
Airclean; I do not believe
Posted on: 12/23/2010 22:30
Airclean;
I do not believe the older brother forgave the younger brother. THe older brother had nothing to forgive anyway. The younger brother sinned against his father and himself. The younger brother was hurt more by his sins than anyone else. In reality we have squabbling familes. Look at Esau and Jacob. My brothers are both angry with me and I did not even do anything to them. Such is the way of families I am afraid.
WaterBuoy
It is said that love will
Posted on: 12/24/2010 08:21
It is said that love will separate mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers; and we must ask is Love God? There has to be another side to this story ... God two-faced, ambiguous as it is told unless he has some intelligence about how to handle awkward animas ... animus meant for Gods?
Just an expanse of thought ... like extended soul? That's the intellect all around the bode an will ... if you research the words and dust eM off a bit!