A Parable about Being Lost
(with apologies to the prodigal son)
By J. Scott McKay
There once was a man who was of two minds. One mind would wander and sometimes the man would follow it. The other mind was stable and always did what was right. One day, near the man’s 45th birthday, the wandering mind said to the man, “You are not getting younger. Family life is boring and they do not respect you anyway. Your job is a drag and no one would miss you if you dropped off the face of the earth. It is time you experienced all of the life you have denied yourself. It is time you got that fast car. It is time that you lived a little. It is time you loosened up, chase some women, walk on the wild side, get a tattoo, color your hair, spend that savings account, and eat some sushi".
Therefore, the man listened to his wandering mind and did all the things he desired and dreamed about. He bought the sports car. He ventured in and out of every nightclub he could find. He bought drinks and entertained himself without a peep from his stable mind. He colored his hair dark black. He got a tattoo of the Texas star on his forearm. He went through 30 years of savings in about 30 days. He drank himself silly. He had many friends until his credit cards were rejected. Life was good when the money flowed.
When the money stopped, there was a big thud in the man’s soul. The drinks stopped flowing, the music stopped playing and the friends stopped calling. There was no place to wander. In addition, there was nothing to fill the huge emptiness in his soul. He ached day and night. He sought help and comfort in all his old places only to have the doors closed in his face.
Two things help us through life. The first is a purpose that makes what we do mean something. To love to serve to deny ourselves gives us purpose. The second thing that gets us through life is distractions. If we have no purpose in life, we will numb or pain with distractions. We distract ourselves with chemicals, sex, entertainment, hobbies, church work or sports. The man had no purpose other than his own pleasure and he could not afford any more distractions. The more he listened to this wandering mind the more empty he felt.
The man was too ashamed to go home and admit his foolishness. He looked for work and found a job bussing tables at a Chuck E. Cheese. The wandering mind would not leave him alone. Every dollar he made was spent on the lottery knowing that the next jackpot was his. One day, after cleaning up the tables of 11 birthday parties, 3 soccer parties, and a retirement party the man’s stable mind spoke up and said “Aren’t you tired of this yet?”
Then the most remarkable thing happened the man’s two minds began to talk to one another. At first, it was uncomfortable. The stable mind wanted to condemn and judge. The wandering mind wanted to make excuses. However, after several days of conversation the stable mind said. “I am ready for us to go home”
“How can I go home?” the wandering mind said as he nibbled on a piece of yesterday’s pizza. "They will all laugh at me and they will shun me." The stable mind said, “Do you think that your foolishness has erased the love of your family?”
Therefore, the man returned home to his family and they welcomed him with open arms. They admired his hair and tattoo. They did not ask any questions.
When all the hugs and kisses were over the youngest child said, "We need to have a party! Let’s go to Chuck E. Cheese!"
(with apologies to the prodigal son)
By J. Scott McKay
There once was a man who was of two minds. One mind would wander and sometimes the man would follow it. The other mind was stable and always did what was right. One day, near the man’s 45th birthday, the wandering mind said to the man, “You are not getting younger. Family life is boring and they do not respect you anyway. Your job is a drag and no one would miss you if you dropped off the face of the earth. It is time you experienced all of the life you have denied yourself. It is time you got that fast car. It is time that you lived a little. It is time you loosened up, chase some women, walk on the wild side, get a tattoo, color your hair, spend that savings account, and eat some sushi".
Therefore, the man listened to his wandering mind and did all the things he desired and dreamed about. He bought the sports car. He ventured in and out of every nightclub he could find. He bought drinks and entertained himself without a peep from his stable mind. He colored his hair dark black. He got a tattoo of the Texas star on his forearm. He went through 30 years of savings in about 30 days. He drank himself silly. He had many friends until his credit cards were rejected. Life was good when the money flowed.
When the money stopped, there was a big thud in the man’s soul. The drinks stopped flowing, the music stopped playing and the friends stopped calling. There was no place to wander. In addition, there was nothing to fill the huge emptiness in his soul. He ached day and night. He sought help and comfort in all his old places only to have the doors closed in his face.
Two things help us through life. The first is a purpose that makes what we do mean something. To love to serve to deny ourselves gives us purpose. The second thing that gets us through life is distractions. If we have no purpose in life, we will numb or pain with distractions. We distract ourselves with chemicals, sex, entertainment, hobbies, church work or sports. The man had no purpose other than his own pleasure and he could not afford any more distractions. The more he listened to this wandering mind the more empty he felt.
The man was too ashamed to go home and admit his foolishness. He looked for work and found a job bussing tables at a Chuck E. Cheese. The wandering mind would not leave him alone. Every dollar he made was spent on the lottery knowing that the next jackpot was his. One day, after cleaning up the tables of 11 birthday parties, 3 soccer parties, and a retirement party the man’s stable mind spoke up and said “Aren’t you tired of this yet?”
Then the most remarkable thing happened the man’s two minds began to talk to one another. At first, it was uncomfortable. The stable mind wanted to condemn and judge. The wandering mind wanted to make excuses. However, after several days of conversation the stable mind said. “I am ready for us to go home”
“How can I go home?” the wandering mind said as he nibbled on a piece of yesterday’s pizza. "They will all laugh at me and they will shun me." The stable mind said, “Do you think that your foolishness has erased the love of your family?”
Therefore, the man returned home to his family and they welcomed him with open arms. They admired his hair and tattoo. They did not ask any questions.
When all the hugs and kisses were over the youngest child said, "We need to have a party! Let’s go to Chuck E. Cheese!"
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