Luke 15:13-19: Coming to ourselves

Luke 15:13-19 (NRSV)

A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 

But when he came to himself....

Has that ever happened to you? You made a really boneheaded decision or choice. You went down a path you know you never should have even set foot on. 

You trusted the wrong person.

You lied about something.

You ignored something you should have paid attention to.

You lifted something up in an idolatrous way.

You made a cutting remark to hurt someone's feelings.

And then...you came to yourself.

And were filled with regret.

It probably happens more in our lives than we like to admit. We make the wrong choice and then there is that moment where we either decide to continue down that path or where we come to ourselves.

The son realized that he was someone other than the person who had betrayed his father's good will and squandered his inheritance and in that realization a dose of humility brought him back to the path that led him home.

It's hard to admit when we've messed up. It's hard especially to acknowledge when that messing up has hurt someone.

And yet, it is the beginning of something new when that happens. The begin of truth. And life.

Lord help me to realize and acknowledge those broken moments that lead me away from you and your people. Amen.