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Somewhere Over The Rainbow


“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9)
 
          I've written about God as the Father before, so I was going to skip this one but coincidentally, the sermon was about a father. You know the father I'm talking about, the one whose eldest boy sang in the choir, helped on the farm, helped little old ladies across the street, and got straight As in school. He even made earned his Eagle Scout award. His younger boy though, he was another story. Just about the time that the boys were supposed to take over Dad's farm, the younger one pulled Dad aside and said, "This just isn't for me. Give me the money my part of the inheritance would bring. I'm moving to the city." In case no one has ever explained this to you, that money was supposed to be his after his father died. In other words, he was effectively saying, "Drop Dead, Dad!"
          So, this father makes a few deals and hands Son #2 one third of the value of his estate and watches as his boy leaves for "bright lights, big city." Curiously, this is what I'm hearing once again about my home town. "There's nothing worth staying for. The town is dead, the only way to make it is to move to where the action is." Our society is filled with younger sons. They are sure when they get to the big city, somehow things will be easier. The opportunities will appear. I'm not wishing anything bad on anyone, but how often, when we are drawn to leave for greater things, do we end up in the pig sty?
         Even among those who "make it," how often is it a gilded pig sty. There is a degree program I think would be very interesting, but in order to find a job, graduates must go to a big city, and work 12-16 hours per day every day. I might make great money and have a nice house, but at what price to my soul? I've had some pig sty jobs.
         The good news is that the father was not only willing to forgive, but looking for the opportunity. There was a home to go home to. If you've been lured to the "big city" only to find yourself in a pig sty... go home. Go home to your Father. He's waiting. When your "somewhere over the rainbow" world collapses into a pile of manure, go home to the Father who will welcome you with open arms.

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