The Two

In the story of the Prodigal there are two sons,
    different and yet alike in that neither saw the real picture.
The prodigal saw himself as entitled to share his father's wealth,
    and yet did not know what wealth he was leaving behind.
The elder brother caused no problems,
    but was unaware of his true riches.

The Prodigal took the riches and lost the home.
    The elder brother had the home and couldn't see the riches.

Suffering and loss taught the prodigal what was important.
    Embitterment and inner conflict brought the other son to his moment of revelation.
 
"Thou art ever with me" (Lk. 15.)

They were the words of the father to his older son.
    Have I heard those words?
        Have I seen this truth?
            Does this sustain the whole of life, my every day?

What a world is there - all is included.
    There is the father,
        the love, the care, the riches.

This is the broad place of Job 36.11 "where there is no straitness.".
    It is a sphere beyond time and space - it fills eternity.
It is the place of the psalmist,
    "all Thy  waves and Thy billows are gone over me." (Ps. 42.7)

Maybe we need to take the time,
    and break up the phrase, and look at it word by word:
"Thou...art ever...with Me"
Maybe we need to capitalize it:
    THOU...ART EVER...WITH ME.
        Can we hear it?
        Can we know it?
        God is infinite and the giving of God has no end.

William Booth wrote a hymn:
    "Oh, boundless salvation,
    deep ocean of love."
This is our dwelling place -infinite measures,
which will overwhelm for all eternity.

        "All Thy waves...and Thy billows...are gone over me."
            ...roll on mighty ocean.