Every time I read The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32, it stops me dead in my tracks. Because I see myself more and more in that story. Growing up, I was blessed with a loving family in a rural Louisiana town where faith, family, and community were closely connected. Friends' parents looked after all the neighborhood kids, not just their own. It was a place where people cared for one another and helped guide the next generation.
Like many young guys just starting out away from home, I drifted away from regular church attendance during college and my career. I also stupidly took the long road, stepping away from school for a few years before deciding to start over. At 26, my dad drove to Baton Rouge and helped me carry furniture and boxes into a small apartment near LSU, encouraging me as I began a new chapter and determined to complete my degree. He believed in me and told me that I reminded him of his younger self after returning home from World War II. After the war, he married my mother, and she encouraged him to return to school, complete his degree, and get back to church. Just two months after helping me move and sharing those stories, my dad passed away. I had no idea that a simple day of moving boxes and settling into a small apartment would become one of the most meaningful memories of my life.
When I think about my father now, I think about the father in Jesus' parable. The story is not only about a son who wandered; it is about a father's steady love, patient guidance, and faithful presence. Looking back, I can see how the examples of both my parents continued to guide me long after I left home. Years later, when Laura made the best shrimp creole I had ever eaten and agreed to marry me, we settled down and began our family. Laura led me back to church and a stronger walk of faith, much like my mother had done for my father.
Reflection: Luke 15 reminds us that faith, family, and community are anchors that keep us grounded. We all wander at times, but God is always ready to welcome us home. My hope is that one day my sons will read this and know that the greatest blessings in life are faith, family, and the people who help us find our way back and the greatest joy is helping to pass that on to others.