THE PRODIGAL'S STORY

THE PRODIGAL MUSINGS: GLOOM, RATS, DARKNESS AND DEATH

"Gloom!" Never before had I felt such helpless and nearly hopeless void and darkness. It crept around my core like climbers in a dense tropical rainforest. "Rats!" Two just entered through a hole under the door. I hate those 'accursed things'. Why did God fashion such hellish creatures? One can hardly keep them out of one's property.

Rats and gloom overlap with so many 'crossing over' points. The former vermin is a great destroyer like the latter. Books written by great minds, fattening grains and fibre, the handy bowl for daily use, shame encrypting garments and even shoes are preyed upon by these detestable mammals. Everything good, everything beneficial to a person always catches the attention of the little, defenceless yet highly offensive rat. That's so much like gloom. It takes away happiness, energy, interest and, makes the mood drop.

The rat moved in the wardrobe as if in affirmation. The electric lights went off as if in approval of the gloomy state of that moment. The proboscied, six - legged, stridulent vampire will soon begin to ply its trade of disease and death. "Gloom! Darkness! Death seems better." There's no better life sucker than this great dementor of Azkaban*. "Lord! Deliver me from gloom."

*A term from the Harry Potter series.

THE PRODIGAL'S STORY: MEETING THE FATHER

         A 'bado' (according to me) is an extremely bad person and that's just what I am - a 'bado extraordinaire.' The evil and deception within me is so thick that you can't help but feel your way around; so deep you can't but ask if you're falling into the bottomless abyss.

         

         So I came as a 'Jabez' and with just a request. "I have caused so much pain, abused such great love and, 'prodigalised' such great grace - none should plead my cause! As it seems good to the father, let Him do to me." Banishment to the farthest and deepest part of hell is what I deserve; a servant at the gate's the best I hoped for - even that doesn't sound fair to me. "Hell! Oh! Hell. The gate to your deepest and farthest threshold awaits me."

         

         Just then I felt the familiar touch - love without asking questions or rationalising. "I can't forget you", the Father said. "Banishment? Nah!" He took me up to sit by His side on one of the highest thrones (I don't know why He did that). Puzzled and tearful I asked Him why. "Love should be without asking questions or rationalising - or else you'll be in hell." It was then I understood why I've failed Him so.