| The way things turn out… I relate better to the “other” son. Luke 15:11-32 Don’t know why but I couldn’t stop thinking about the “other” son today. You've probably heard the story of the Prodigal Son one time or another(loved when Brad talked about it in CCC but I missed the one on the older brother every year). Well, the story shows how great the father’s love for his son is, that once the son returns not only does he forgive him but celebrates. I’m sure the son must have felt unworthy, shameful, and unbelievably grateful all at the same time. If he’d never gone astray then he might have never been able to experience the extent of his father’s love. As in Luke 7:41-43, greater debt, greater love but for me and the other son, that’s SO not fair. Been good all my life, slaved for you, never “disobeyed” but no party for me. Not even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. I always found that kinda funny. What would I do with a goat? Haha but I’m sure it would have been a really cool thing for the “other” brother. Don’t know how you make friends, how you keep them, or why you think your friends are your friends but if you are anything like me or the “other” brother you’d understand that if you don’t got any COOL goat to share, your friends might not wanna hangout with you, you’re just not cool enough. So, baby brother ran away, don’t know if there are other siblings but let’s just assume he’s been the only child for a while and doesn’t relate well to peers. Having the lil bro come back is a shocker, man, now I gotta share my parents, I so enjoyed the only child life. Dude didn’t even make many friends yet cuz I’ve been working hard but no goat, no party, means no friends. So I’m guessing he’s relating well to Simple Plan’s song “I’m Just a Kid” I woke up it was 7
I waited till 11
Just to figure out that no one would call
I think i got a lot of friends but I don't hear from them
What's another night all alone?
When your spending everyday on your own
And here it goes
[Chorus:]
I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare
I'm just a kid, I know that its not fair
Nobody cares, cause I'm alone and the world is
Having more fun than me
Tonight.... HAHA love that song it's so sad and funny, anyways, back to the “other” son, so he’s just worn out, baffled by the way life turns out, WHAT? There’s GRACE? Probably regretting why he was so good, and pouting about lil bro’s party and sitting outside being emo and being a baby and not going into the party. With a big “L” on his forehead! So it’s hard I guess, internal struggle of whether all the rules and regulations that you’ve once followed hoping to be recognized seem to not matter. His life’s standards, morals, motivations, and everything his lived by is working against him. Or so he thought. I guess what the problem is, is that he didn’t see how great his father’s love is. He didn’t see that living a life of holiness is important and is “for his own good”(as Singaporean movies always say). Holiness isn’t about following rules that restrict but boundaries to guide and develop a person to lead them on a road to excellence(By excellence I mean the life God has intended for us to live). He didn’t know that his father loved him for being his son, he thought he needed to earn his father’s love and buy his friendships. Sigh* don’t we all fall in to that sometimes…or maybe just me? I’m thinking that he probably doesn’t really like himself, doesn’t think he is worthy of love and friendships, and most of all doesn’t know he placed his worth and identity in the wrong place. It wasn’t in his sonship but rather in his works and not disobedient deeds. So as things turn out, whether you relate better to the prodigal son or the “other” son,(I think I might call him Terry from now on cuz I don’t know any guys named Terry, it starts with a T, and you can say it with a cool Singaporean accent) hopelessness, unworthiness, and shamefulness is something we all deal with but grace is something we’re all granted. Mmm…I think I know why I’ve been thinking about TERRY all day now…it’s probably cuz my internship starts tomorrow and I’ve feeling a lil incompetent. So I guess what I did learn is, hmm God loves me and don’t make friends who only want your goat? Haha No maybe it’s more on the lines of, yes I am unworthy, yes I am ashamed of my life, yes I am weak but because of grace because of you mercy I stand here unashamed. Maybe that’s why I cry almost every time I hear that song. =) God is good and either way you can experience the extent of his love. Hope you'll all have a great week. |
