Spring is a time for renewal and hope. I pray that the following excerpt from my book, Prodigal in the Parsonage, will offer renewed hope to every parent who currently waits for a beloved child to return to faith.

Will The Real Prodigal Please Stand Up?

“And such were some of you…”
I Corinthians 6:11 NAS

 It had been a lovely mother-daughter tea.  Pastel cloths, baskets of spring flowers, and candles still adorned the tables, now scattered with crumbs and left over bits of finger sandwiches, tea cakes, and scones.  Ladies milled about, chatting and smiling, oblivious to the clink and clatter as volunteers in frilly aprons began clearing the china teapots and elegantly eclectic array of cups and saucers. It was apparent they were enjoying the extended fellowship.

Having been the speaker, I still stood near the front receiving those who had lingered to offer a greeting or express thanks. The chosen theme emphasizing the seasons of motherhood had prompted me at one point to allude briefly to the difficult years with my own children. Noticing more than a few misty eyes in the audience, I made it a special point to include mothers with prodigal children in my closing prayer. This prompted several to approach me afterward, sharing personal stories of both pain and praise. 

Glancing to the side, I noticed a lovely young lady waiting patiently at the end of the rather lengthy line. Though dressed in faddish youthful fashion, she was well groomed and had a fresh-scrubbed radiance. She can’t be a mom, I thought. Much too young. When she finally stood before me, her words caught me off guard.

“Mrs. Braddy, I just had to tell you. I was your son.”

Seeing my look of confusion, she proceeded.  “For three years I was a prodigal, too. Living on the streets and doing drugs. I just, like, recently recommitted my life to the Lord. Don’t ever stop praying for your son. God’s gonna bring him back.”

I was inexplicably touched. She’d waited all this time just to share that encouragement. Voice hoarse with emotion, I thanked her. We chatted a few more minutes. Then she gave me a shy hug and turned to leave. 

Still absorbing her words, I watched her walk away, arm in arm with her mom who’d also been waiting. A short and happy wait, no doubt, compared to the last three years. 

Amazing, I thought. She looks like anything but a prodigal.

But then what exactly does a prodigal look like? People have a tendency to think of prodigals mostly as surly, rebellious children and often as sons (probably due in large part to the biblical story). But they come in all shapes, sizes, ages and genders. How many might there be sitting in any given audience? My guess is that up to half the group could be comprised of past, present or progressing prodigals. Still you probably couldn’t pick them out of a crowd of one.

Certainly some are more easily identified. Those who, in their altered state, may have chosen to also permanently alter their appearance. But most bear no significant outward sign. Yet many still live with severe scars and continuing consequences. Truth is we don’t always know who they are or where they may be in the process. Only as God continues his work of grace in their lives are some able to face and find courage to relate the events of their past.

And another thing:  How many past prodigals do you suppose there are behind the pulpit? More than we might imagine. In his book Good News About Prodigals, Tom Bisset states that research indicates 93% of current pastors and Christian leaders had gone through a faith rejection that was either fairly or extremely serious but had come back stronger than ever. No doubt prodigals make some of the best pastors. When it comes to preaching the perils of the pig pen, they certainly know firsthand what they’re talking about.

Point is, maybe we shouldn’t be too quick to either judge or lose hope.

The first century Corinthian church—the one most noted in the Bible for preaching one thing while practicing another—probably thought they had a few prodigals pegged. Yes, sir. If anyone knew a sinner when they saw one, it was First Church of the Corinthians. Trouble was, not only were they judging each other, they were taking their troubles before secular judges.  In the sixth chapter of his first letter, Paul renders a rebuke then proceeds to help them sort out their spiritual identity. In so doing he makes a point of specifically listing those who won’t enter heaven;   idolators, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, swindlers, just to name a few.  I can just hear the self-righteous saints cheering him on. “Yeh, Paul. You tell ‘em.” 

Until he gets to the part recorded in verse 11: “And such were some of you; but you were washed…sanctified…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”

What was Paul saying?  Seems we are all prodigals until we embrace God’s love and accept his plan of salvation.  Even then we retain a remnant of the rebel. The bit that still at times demands our own selfish rights, often turning a deaf ear to our own Heavenly Father’s counsel. Yet God continues his progressive work of grace in all our lives.

It has occurred to me more than once that maybe this is exactly why God chose to present some of us with prodigals of our very own. So we will be forced to examine this propensity more closely--not only in our children, but ourselves. Who, after all, can teach us more about compassion, the human condition, and God’s amazing grace? If there is one thing we must help every prodigal understand it’s that from any far-flung destination, it’s only one step back to God.  And the minute they come within sight of home, he—and we—will be running to meet them. 

Yes, there are prodigals all around us, in all stages of the return journey.  We are not the only parents who are waiting and watching. Even as we scan the outlying landscape for our own, we mustn’t lose sight of the need to help others.

So what does a prodigal look like?  A person in need of God’s grace.

 And such were all of us.

Lord, how we all stand in need of your grace and mercy. Let us grasp once again how generously and freely you give it. Then help us offer it in the same way to others. Assure us that even as you bring those who need your love across our path, you are placing others in the path of our own prodigals for the same purpose.  Amen.

 Want your own copy of Prodigal In The Parsonage? Go to the Book Nook for ordering information. 

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Updated 03/21/2011 using Microsoft FrontPage 2003