The Prodigal Son

I just finished reading a wonderful book by Henri Nouwen called The Prodigal Son. In it, he describes how the painting The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt as well as the parable that inspired it has shaped and reshaped his view of himself, God, and the gospel. I personally think it's a great read for anybody.

Nouwen begins by describing the "lost son," the younger son who demanded his inheritance, squandered it in another country, returned to his father, and was welcomed with joy and celebrating. He shares how he oftentimes has felt like the son who wanders, if not physically, spiritually, from his father's home. He denies his father, forsakes his identity as a son, and runs away chasing things of the wind, only to find they will never sustain him. He then returns, expeccting and preparing to be nothing better than a servant and to receive the punishment he justly deserves, only to be surprised by his father's glad and joyous welcome home.

Nouwen then explains how after some years he began to see himself as the elder son. The son who always did as was expected and never "pushed the limits". As the eldest in my family, this really speaks to me. He even describes the sense of almost jealousy towards the younger son often felt by the elder child because he never felt the freedom to push the limits of love. Nouwen also offers the insight that like the younger son, the elder had also left the family, but in a more secretive, perhaps destructive way. From his language ("this son of yours") one can see he is embittered and resentful, and like the wandering prodigal, is not at home in his father's house. So just as much as this is a call for the prodigal in all of us to return to our loving Father, it is a call for the self-righteous, the experienced and repetitiously or meticulously obedient in us, to return to the place of love, affection, and spontaneous warmth found in the Father. At one point Nouwen says (paraphrased), "The younger son had passion without responsibility, but the elder had responsibility without passion."

Finally, he describes the Father, and this is where he really takes a twist. While explaining the boundless love, compassion, and concern of our Father in Heaven, Nouwen moves to make it more personal. His personal conviction was that God was calling him to become a father as well...He was being called to move beyond the place of just identifying with one of the children, but actually as the child, to grow into maturity and become like the father. Basically, he admits he is still traveling this road and definitely has not "arrived" yet, but as he travels he is called to love and emulate the ways of God...to be like the father in the parable. It's basically like when Jesus said, "Be compassionate just as your Father in Heaven is compassionate." But Nouwen is quick to explain that the life of the father is a much more lonesome, difficult, painful, and yet joyful road. By finding our complete identity in God and really living the ways of unconditional love, we will no longer be chasing affirmation and acceptance...nor will we be as likely to receive it. Just as our Father in Heaven loves us so much he lets us leave and choose to return, we too must love so much that it overflows even when others hurt us, criticize us, disappoint us, or leave us. It's hard to describe in just a blog entry, but it's a really profound insight and definitely worth checking out.

I know this entry comes across a lot like a book review or like one of those kids on Reading Rainbow...sorry about that. I was just really excited about what Henri shared and thought it might bless someone out there too.