..And I will sing a Lullaby-y

"Scared?
Ha!
Keep walking, honey. No one's loving you any longer. With these choices? C'mon, no turning back, now. This is you. All of you. Too late. Too far. This hell is yours." -the enemy hisses.
-but do we act the enemy?

We care a lot!
About you people, yeah you bet we care a lot!
Yeah!
It's a dirty job but someones gotta do it.
Faith No More We Care A Lot

Blah, blah, blah. We care a lot. So says we.
But....
Are we safe to come home to?

Well, thank you for proving me right.One more soul to be superior over.Thanks for that. 
Why, I never!
------
 Rather than grabbing a dusty, stinky handful of the load and walking alongside in friendship. Better yet, removing the load.
Before asking honest questions with honest motives and honest ears.
-------
Taking the easy way out.
Gossip spoken over here.
Extra, extra!
Analyzing every presumption.
So many assumptions.
So many, well, you know.

 Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home........
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight,
Carry that weight a long time..
Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/the End Paul McCartney(Beatles)

Are we standing with loving expectation as the father did with his prodigal?
Not shocked.
Not punitive.
Ready to release that weight.
As the son took the uncertain steps near in humility, he was met with open arms and joy!
Are we waiting to welcome the repentant with slow-to-anger, quick-to-listen hearts?
Do we know how terrifying it is for the truly broken?

Are we safe to come home to?

Or do we secretly long for the return of the stocks.
And public shaming.
Standing ready with our handy dandy label maker.

Do we watch our horrid, gossipy tongues, so that a loved-one isn't afraid that same mouth will turn on them when screw-ups are brought to light. So that they aren't imprisoned by fear. 
Of rejection.
Of a box.
Of everything they know they deserve.
"Cause, you know, we all deserve it.
I deserve it.
You deserve it.

Someone made a way.
Let's follow.
​
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:10-14

One of my favorite scenes in a movie. I've thought a lot about in this year, though I've not watched it since elementary school. From The Mission with Robert DeNiro.
Watch.
​Sit with it. 

Timothy Keller also has a great sermon on the Prodigal Sons. Link here. #75