I am a softie…I really am.
I cry at certain movies.
I get a lump in my throat.
My eyes “well up” sometimes.
It happens more and more the older I get. I don’t necessarily like it, but it happens…
This comes from “an old classic sermon illustration.”

It is the story of “the prodigal son.” It is “OUR” story.
As much as preachers would like to make this story be about drugs and alcohol…and all kinds of “sordid living”…it IS NOT.
It is a common – everyday story about “turning your back on God.” It is a story about thinking that you can handle things on your own. You need no one. You got this! You can handle it all. You DO NOT NEED GOD in your life!
In millions of subtle ways, we ALL turn our backs on God at some time. There are NO EXCEPTIONS. YOU have walked away from him as well. I know you have.
The father “WAITS.” The father has ALWAYS waited. And we DO NOT CARE!
He waits with “outstretched arms.” Sometimes I think the father grieves for each and every one of us… “all the time.” Yep, we GRIEVE the father. We ALL grieve the father…over and over again.
The Young son ABANDONED the father.
It could – just have been the “older son,” as well. But in this particular case, it is the younger son. It matters not. Younger daughter, older daughter…
“He” walks away. You know how WE walk away, with that “cocky swagger” assured of ours. We can do it all. We are “self-made.” We are independent, we DO NOT need any ONE! We are self-reliant.
So, he WALKS away. After a while, “he” finds himself ultimately out of money, out of resources and out of luck. There are no other options available to him…he is down and out…with no- where to turn, back against the wall…he KNOWS “who: to call on…
So he writes a letter home. Dear Mom and Dad. He is eating crow. He is at wit’s end. This is hard.
“I was wrong. I made a mistake. I am sorry. I failed. I am at the bottom of the barrel. I need to come home. I need YOU. I cannot do this on my own.”
I get it. There is no reason for you to take me back. I burned all my bridges. All I can do is hope and pray that you will “welcome me home.”
I have been given a train ticket. The train will come past our farm. If you want me to come home, please place a single white towel on the wash line…I will be watching…
If there is no towel, I will simply keep going… I understand. I have hurt you deeply. I know I have broken your heart. I am even sorry that I have to ask this of you. Please consider forgiving me.
With each additional mile of track he becomes more and more nervous. He paces. His hands become sweaty. He is worried and concerned. I have really blown this, he thinks to himself.
He actually fears that when the time comes he will NOT be able to LOOK. Apprehension grows. He is frightened as to WHAT he will find.
“What if” there is “NO TOWEL.” It is all my fault. I have got myself into this predicament. I have no one else to blame.
Finally he can stand it NO MORE. The anticipation is smothering.
Sitting next to a man, he says, “Sir around this next bend – there is going to be an old farm house on the left. There will be a white house…with an old dilapidated red barn behind it. There will be a fence and a wash line in the yard.
Can you look for me? I cannot bear to look myself. Would you be so kind to tell me if there is “a white towel” hanging on the clothesline? I know it sounds strange, but I simply cannot look myself.
The young man’s heart started to race as again the train took another bend…this is IT.
All of a sudden the stranger on the train said, “Quick open your eyes, look for yourself.” The whole clothesline is covered in white towels. The Oak trees are covered with white sheets. Even the barn roof was covered with white sheets. The old dilapidated sagging fence was covered with white sheets. There were white sheets EVERYWHERE.
The father and the mother – so deeply wanted their son to return home.
And so it is with God. Whenever we wander or stray or roam away from him. When we turn our backs on him, when we forget about him…he is there, wanting us back, longing for our return. Waiting.
Always waiting…always with outstretched arms…running to meet us. ALWAYS.
Amen.