One of the most famous stories in the Bible's New Testament is "The Prodigal Son." This foolish young man ungratefully rejects his father, demands his cut of the estate, and strikes out on his own. He is confident that he will do just fine without the firm foundation of his father's land and familial support.
After frittering away his inheritance, the runaway son ends up in starving and in dire poverty. He thinks about how his father's servants live a much better, more comfortable life than he is enduring, and he realizes his folly. As Luke 15:17-20 describes it, the son "came to himself." In modern terms, he snapped out of it. He realized he had made a terrible mistake, and he ached for home. He made the long journey and returned, fearful of rejection; but his father welcomed him with open arms and celebrated their reunion with a feast.
I see many parallels between today's United States of America and the Prodigal Son.
Although we live in the most prosperous, industrious, welcoming and successful nation in recorded history, many of us took our remarkable bounty for granted. We assumed it would always be so, and that it required no effort from us. As decades passed, we paid no heed to the increasing dangers threatening our unique society. With an arrogance worthy of the prodigal, we seemed certain we could manage any issue.
Now, after a year of continuously damaging events in our country, it appears that Americans are coming to ourselves. We get it now. We understand that dark forces have been undermining our values, laws, history, traditions--our very way of life--from within. You have probably heard and read as often as I have the familiar lament from fellow Americans--"I want my country back." Just as the prodigal yearned for his father's home, we long for the strong, safe, stable nation that was ours.
I believe it can be ours again, if we decide to reclaim our home. It will be a long, hard journey back. But if we can do it, as in Luke's parable, there will be much rejoicing at the end.
