The Return of This Son

There once was this man named Dwaine. A young man whose heart was once filled with song and joy, his life filled with love and compassion. However, over time Dwaine became weary and heavy-laden with  burdens he picked up along this Journey he was called to take, a pilgrimage of sorts. As Dwaine walked this path, his mind began to wander, and soon so did his feet. Instead of walking the path that had been miraculously blazed before him, he chose to walk in a different direction where light was not provided and darkness reigned. The darkness began to envelope him and close in on the life that was given to serve the purpose of the Great Adventurer. Soon he had lost his way. His heart set on only himself, however, the path was not forgotten. In Dwaine's mind the path was always there but he couldn't see it very clearly. As the days wore on, he trekked deeper and deeper into a place he did not know and could not see. He became blinded and numbed to what was going on around him. He could not see the thorns but even when he stepped on them, he could not feel them penetrating his foot or scratching his skin. The only time he felt the pain was when he felt weak and remembered the Light he had been given as a guide. When he opened the Light, he saw the effects of his blindness and felt the pain that partnered with it. 

The wounds eventually healed but with every scratch, Dwaine's resolve grew weaker and his wisdom ran low. With every step he took, he stepped further and further away from the path blazed for him, until one day he could not go further, he could not take another step not knowing where he was or in what direction he was walking. The only direction he needed now, was the direction he needed to walk to head back to that blazed path, the Journey intended. With all his might, Dwaine reached up and cried out, "My whole life I place in Your hands. God of mercy, humbled I bow down in Your Presence at Your Throne. I want to be where You are!! In my life be lifted high. In my world be lifted high. In my love be lifted high!"

At that moment, the scene changed. Light flooded the darkness. The thorns and weeds dispersed. The snakes and scorpions attempted to flee but were squashed, as if by a great foot. Frightened by the immense light that pulsated and pierced his very being, Dwaine could not help but buckle over in order to shield himself from the light. Slowly, it started to warm his core and he began to adjust to, what seemed like, his new surroundings. When he opened his eyes, everything was so familiar. Dwaine looked down and saw the rich green grass under his feet. As he lifted his eyes, he saw the plain stretch farther than he could see. He turned around and found that he was about 10 metres from the edge of a great cliff that dropped off into a calm, yet powerful, ocean which met a sunrise kissed horizon. That horizon introduced a sky which seemed as though it was on fire, as the sun's rays hit the edges of clouds. However, amidst all this beauty, something, no, Someone caught his attention. Dwaine's eyes turned and saw Him. His face so beautiful that he wanted to stare into it and never look away but yet, this same face held so much power that he could not keep looking. Something started to happen. Dwaine's dread changed to excitement, his mourning into joy. He picked himself up and ran as fast as he could, a smile leaping from one edge of his mouth to the other. As he ran, Dwaine felt a new energy surging through his veins. The Man started to run as well as He, too, was filled with joy, as a father is when his son returns from a long journey. They met and embraced for what seemed like an eternity to Dwaine. Tears of joy streamed down their faces as their hearts inter-twined.

    "Where have I been, Lord? Where did I go?" asked Dwaine.

    "You wandered from your path for a short while, Dwaine. But now you have returned to Me. You called to Me and I answered," Jesus replied.

Jesus' height dwarfed Dwaine as he placed his ear on his Lord's chest, still smiling as he listened to Jesus' thunderous heartbeat. Songs began to fill Dwaine's heart again. He thought about the question he had just asked and realised that he had not asked where Jesus had been all this time. It dawned on him why he had not asked that. He remembered that promise, "Never will I leave you nor will I forsake you." The smile remained on his face.

    After a while, Jesus and Dwaine started to walk towards the edge of the cliff. As they walked Dwaine asked, "Lord, where am I going?" 

    Jesus smiled and replied, "You must come on an adventure with Me. It'll just be you and Me."

    "But where are we going?"

    "We must cross this ocean."

    "When will we go?"

    "The ship is ready to leave at any time."

Before Dwaine could ask the next question of "If we go by sea, will that mean it will be perilous?" the answer flooded his mind with the reminder of when Jesus disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee and a storm raged around them. While the disciples stressed about the ship being torn apart and them drowning, Jesus slept below deck. When the disciples woke Jesus, he came on deck and commanded the storm to cease. Jesus said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 

    He then said to Jesus, "I must prepare myself for I am to leave my family, my brothers and my sisters. This is a cross I must bear in order that I may follow you wholeheartedly. Let me go to them, so that I may leave them in love and sincerity."

    "You may go but I will go with you. You are weak and for that reason, you will need My strength to endure this part of the adventure. It has been your weakness in the past but My grace is sufficient for you and My power is made perfect in weakness."

Dwaine sat with his Lord for a time but they rose again. Dwaine's heart fluttered with grief, as the love he has for his family weighed him down but strength filled him again. 

As they walked away from the cliff to begin their journey together, a song filled Dwaine's heart , "Here I am, O Lord. Here I am, O Lord. You are good. Jesus, my hope is in You."