Pushing Through The Noise
We live in a society that more times than not centers around individualism. Bookstores are full of self-help literature and media focuses on how "I" can succeed. It takes the right clothes, car, make-up, exercise equipment, and so on to make me the best. Self-centeredness is all around us. The "all about me" mindset is woven throughout the story of the Prodigal Son. The younger son wants, receives, and squanders his inheritance and then comes groveling home while the father has been grieving his loss and the older son has remained faithful and hardworking. Two self-centered sons, one who was lost and has returned; one who was always there and never lacked, treated with grace and respect. While our society touts an "all about me, self-centered" image that is not what is laid out in this parable. You see when we mature in our faith, we can shift the focus off ourselves and show grace to others, as was demonstrated by the loving father for both of his sons.
I like Disney movies. In 2003 Disney/Pixar released "Finding Nemo". Marlin is a clownfish who lives in an anemone in the Great Barrier Reef. His wife, Coral, and almost all their eggs are killed in a barracuda attack and only one damaged egg remains, Nemo. Given the circumstances, Marlin is overprotective of Nemo, who, because of the attack, was born with a stunted right fin. On Nemo's first day of school, Marlin embarrasses Nemo, and the two argue. While Marlin is talking to Nemo's teacher, Nemo defiantly approaches a nearby speedboat, (sounds a little like our prodigal son) where he is captured by a pair of scuba divers and taken to an aquarium tank in a dentist's office in Sydney, Australia. There Nemo realizes that his actions were not the smartest and works with the others in the tank to make his way back to his father. At the same time, Marlin moves heaven and ocean to find his son, the prodigal son. Meetings with sharks, jellyfish, Crush and sea turtles, and encounters with self-centered seagulls whose chant is "mine, mine, mine" can't stop Marlin from his mission, to find his son and welcome him home with love and grace. Nemo escapes and makes his way back to the ocean and comes upon his father. Apologies from Nemo are offered, and Nemo is greeted with the love and grace that a father can offer.
The prodigal son, the one who was reckless and defiant has returned having turned away from his self-centeredness and now truly sees and respects those around him. When we give into the noise around us and buy into our culture today, we lose sight of what God is calling us to do. We are called to demonstrate grace and unconditional love as did the father and Marlin. No matter how far away we move from God, no matter how wasteful we are with the gifts God gives us, God is always pleased when we turn back to him. God never leaves us. Hear that again. God NEVER leaves us. God’s unconditional love is always present, and God’s arms are always open. We are being called to look beyond ourselves and emulate the love and grace of Jesus Christ for all to see. Pushing through the noise and allowing God to shift the focus off our self-centeredness and onto demonstrating graciousness and unconditional love for others is the call. So, will you push past all the noise and allow God to provide clarity of purpose, and clear direction, and then respond to his call?