The Return of the Prodigal Son

This is what I'm currently reading... I first encountered the articles from this book in another book which I love... The Dance of Life... It's a series of articles from Henri Nouwen.

I'm sure most of you know about the bible passage on The Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32). Yups, the whole book practically speaks about different perspectives of the parable that Jesus gave us... The younger son, the elder son and the father. I'm starting on the younger son today... ^^

So now I'm at the comfort of reading it... There's a part of the prologue to the book which I'd like to share with you all here...

These years at Daybreak have not been easy. There has been much inner struggle, and there has been mental, emotional, and spiritual pain. Nothing, absolutely nothing, had about it the quality of having arrived. However, the move from Harvard to L'Arche proved to be but one little step from bystander to participant, from judge to repentant sinner, from teacher about love to being loved as the beloved. I really did not have an inkling how deeply rooted my resistance was and how agonizing it would be to "come to my senses", fall on my knees, and let my tears flow freely. I did not realize how hard it would be to become truly part of the great event that Rembrandt's painting portrays.

Each little step toward the centre seemed like an impossible demand, a demand requiring me to let go one more time from wanting to be in control, to give up one more time the desire to predict life, to die one more time to the fear of not knowing where it all will lead, and to surrender one more time to a love that knows no limits. And still, I knew that I would never be able to live the great commandment to love without allowing myself to be loved without conditions or prerequisites. The journey from teaching about love to allowing myself to be loved proved much longer than I realized.

This part is one beautiful part of this book I'm reading. I'm sure I'll discover more in time to come as I continue reading. I'll update you guys if I encounter any parts suitable to be shared publicly.

Till then... Pax et Bonum.