“The Diary of the Prodigal Son”
(Luke 15:11-32)
Second Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
I can’t believe what happened today! My father said, “Yes!” Finally! He agreed to let me have my inheritance early! I told him I wouldn’t take “no” for an answer this time. And instead of grounding me…again…or lecturing me on respect and honor He said “Yes!” I couldn’t…CAN’T believe it! So tomorrow I’m leaving this place! No more work. No more being told what to do. No more religious rules. I’m free! This is going to be great! My older brother will be angry but what else is new? He’ll probably just be mad he didn’t ask first. Now all the work is his and I am on my way.
Third Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
So, I left this morning. Like I really left home and I couldn’t be more excited! I realized I didn’t have a plan so I thought of one that will forever prove my family’s old-fashioned values wrong. Father has always taught us out of the Ancient Writings and the one he always held over our heads was this one called Ecclesiastes. He said it would teach us about what we should desire in this life. It actually has a list of these things all of us Jewish boys are dying to do that it has to call vanity, like worthless. I feel like my father and all the other grayheads in this old town had a part in writing that book so they could keep us from all of that fun—which means more time on the farm. So away from the farm means proving these “vanities” of Ecclesiastes wrong. Tomorrow my Vanity Voyage begins!
Fourth Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
WHAT A DAY!! Where I used to consider the writer of Ecclesiastes my enemy, I now consider him my greatest friend! I mean his list starts with wisdom as vanity (and on that one I’d have to agree) so I moved on to the next one: wine! I bought up a bunch of it in this city I have found myself in and boom—the people and friends just showed up! You talk about a party! I stayed up way past my bedtime. The sun was even down before I hit that pillow! A headache this morning was worth the fun and excitement of last night! Let the Vanity Voyage continue!! Oh, and thank you father for paying for it all.
Tenth Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
The parties are just getting bigger and better! Yeah, I have to pay for them, but I mean the house, the pool, the wine, the women, and I think there were some guys there too! What a week it’s been! This idea that money and being known is vanity and empty is the biggest tale in the story of life! I mean what happened to “thou shalt not bear false witness”? Because that’s exactly what the writer of Ecclesiastes is doing. Vanity? Ha! Here I am living my best life with no one to tell me what to do and someone dares to call that worthless. The only thing empty about this trip is going to be my pocket full of money here soon. But I’ll worry about that when it happens. I’m sure my new friends won’t mind pitching in after all of these great parties I’ve thrown!
Twentieth Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
It’s been ten days since I wrote last. I’m busy looking for a job but with no luck. I thought my friends would help me once my money ran out, but I can’t seem to catch them at a good time. They are always busy or caught up with their own problems right now because of this famine. I’m sure they will come through for me here soon. Surely.
Twenty-fifth Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
I finally found a job. It’s not one I ever wanted but it’s funny how things change when you’re desperate. I thought for sure that money my father gave me would have lasted longer than it did. It seemed like so much at first. I don’t even remember all that I spent it on. I remember I had a good time once or twice but where did it all go? Same place as the friends I suppose. It’s time for me to go feed the animals again. I am starting to think the writer of Ecclesiastes was right…but hopefully not.
Twenty-eighth Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
I put off writing again because I didn’t want to admit what I’m about to say—the emptiness of the last month has finally hit me. My pocket full of money is empty. My stomach is empty. And now my purpose for living is quickly becoming that way too. I’m eighteen and that is the last thing I would ever want to admit! I am trying to figure out what I should do. I know deep down what it is, but I’m still hoping my luck will turn around.
Thirtieth Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year
Almost there. I hated to make this journey. But a servant to someone else or a servant back home—those are my choices. Maybe he will take me back as that. Head down. No eye contact. Scraps for food. No shoes. Tattered clothes. That’s what I’m worth. To think I thought so highly of myself to wish him dead yet desire his money. This is my only hope.
Thirtieth Day of Harvest Month, Eighteenth Year #2
I can’t believe what happened today! My Father said, “Yes!” Quicker than I ever imagined! He agreed to let me have my place back in the family! He told me he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer and instead of grounding me…like I deserved…or lecturing me on respect and honor, he said “Yes!” I couldn’t…CAN’T believe it! So tonight, I am forgiven!!! There will be work to be done tomorrow. There will be rules and standards I’ll try to obey. But it’s going to be great! What I used to see as a chore and a bore I will now see as a blessing and the duty of my life! It would seem my journey ended with the same conclusion as that Ancient Book. Looking back, I probably should have read the entire thing before seeking to prove any of it wrong.
My older brother seems to still be angry, but I hope one day soon he will see the happiness that comes with just being with our Father. Add that to the things I learned while I was away. My Father’s forgiveness will never take away what I have done against Him, but it reminds me that my past doesn’t have to define the days ahead.
Thanks again Father for paying for it all…my future that is!
I am finally starting to realize how much it actually cost.
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“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:”
1 John 3:1
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
1 Peter 1:18-19
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