Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Before and After (05/14/09)
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TITLE: The Other Brother | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lisa Evans
05/21/09 -
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A hush in the air hovered giving him the quiet he needed to make an intelligent decision. In his tattered and soiled tunic, he arose and took the first steps on his journey home. Though everything in him wanted to rush back to be in his father’s presence again, he couldn’t. The shame that weighed him down made him believe he was unworthy of such a reunion.
With each placement of his foot, he kept rehearsing what he would say in hopes of receiving his father’s acceptance…not as a son, but as a servant. With his head bowed low, he prayed sincerely in his heart that his father would understand.
Before and after the prodigal son left, the other brother had been struggling with his place in his father’s heart. Sure, the father had justly given to each of them their portion when he divided the inheritance, but why couldn’t he see the prodigal son as he truly was: a descendant of Orpah who, once he got the money, would leave rather than cleave?
He, on the other hand, stayed and worked in the fields diligently from sun up to sun down. He desperately wanted to please his father. However, his hard work could not satisfy the longing his father had for his prodigal son. Every day he’d walk down to the gate and look to see if his son was coming down the path leading to the house.
While the father’s faith did not waver concerning his son’s return, the other brother never once considered the possibility that his brother might return. But that day had finally come. “That’s odd,” the brother thought to himself, “what was with all the music and dancing?” Even his father’s servant seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, but what was the occasion? He called the servant over and questioned the reason for the feast. To his surprise, he learned that the prodigal son had returned home and the feast had been prepared for him.
The anger that burned inside him erupted like hot mountain lava. He could not understand how his brother’s foolish actions could be celebrated. Was his father in his right mind? What about him? He had worked the land, single-handedly, since his brother left. He was the one who picked up the pieces when his brother selfishly spread his immature wings to go and see the world. It was him whom the father could trust to stay and be at his side even through to his old age. Yet, no party was ever given in his honor.
He was so furious that he didn’t even hear when his father came outside and stood slightly behind him. Why did his father even ask what was wrong? Wasn’t it obvious? When he turned to answer, he couldn’t believe the joy that was dancing in his father’s eyes. He did his best to speak respectfully, but he was simply too angry. He began by reminding his father of his faithfulness and all that he had done; yet, his father had never taken enough notice of his good deeds to throw such a lavish feast for him and his friends.
His father, seeing the hurt in his eyes, waited patiently for his turn to speak. He tried his best to comfort his son, explaining to him that there was no need to compare himself to his brother or to feel cheated in any way. He put it this way, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” But the son was too blinded by his father’s love for his brother to even hear his love for him.
The son stood suspended between his right and his brother’s wrong. He had a decision to make: either go inside the house and join the party or remain on the outside looking in with an embittered soul. His father compassionately made one last attempt to comfort his son’s aching heart. “My child, don’t you see? The purpose of the feast is not to reward your brother for any wrong done; the celebration is for the life that was once lost but is now found.”
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