232 - "Let The Younger and Older Sons Grow Up in Me to the Maturity of their Compassionate Father" Psalm 87-88

  

I embrace this place where Divine Providence has me. It's not where I thought I'd spend my last days.

I Cor. 12 - Gifts! ... But now I want to lay out a far better way for you ...  The Way of Love is found in the next chapter, I Cor 13. 

But I seek Christ not chief places. I long to remain faithful to the trust and Gifts God had placed in me. I Cor 12:28. 

Psalm 88 - God, you're my last chance of the day. I spend the night on my knees before you ...
Take notes on the trouble I'm in ... 
You turned my friends against me ...
Blinded by tears of pain and frustration ...
My only friend left is Darkness ...
Pain.
Frustration.
What do I do with that?

You put the arrogant ocean in its place 
You put your arrogant child in moments like today
that I may see into my heart.

I've thought a whole lot this year about the story of the Prodigal Son.  In his book about the prodigal, Henri Nouwen writes:  "Can I let the younger and older son grow in me to the maturity of the compassionate father?"  The father is who I must become, he writes.  As the father deals with his own anger and loneliness, his anger turns to solitude and his loneliness turns to gratitude.  I am that younger and older brother.  Frustration.  Anger.  Pain.   Can you grow both of my sides into a compassion that moves into the lives of others in the midst of my own mess?. 

PHOTO: A son I believe who will grow up with a compassionate heart.