Lost

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Dorothy Sorrell

We have heard this parable many times as pastors preach about the lost son, the loving father and the resentful older brother. In addition to verbal interpretations of the story, there are artists’ depictions of the narrative, and this is where Jerry Evenrud enters my thinking about the parable. Jerry is best known for his gift of music, having been Director of Music of the American Lutheran Church and later the ELCA. But for several years, he has also had a great interest in collecting and exhibiting more than two hundred pieces of fine art that express the timeless and universal theme of the Prodigal Son. It was during two of Jerry’s classes that I began to marvel at how the story could be told by color, positioning of people, ornateness and simplicity.

Recently I was happy to learn of a book that has been published containing pictures of fifty-two works of art from Jerry’s collection, along with essays and commentaries. Looking through the book, all the familiar characters are there - the lost son in his despair and return, the father in his warm and enthusiastic reception, the older brother in his anger and begrudging attitude. There are also the circumstances of receiving generous gifts, using and misusing these gifts, being lost and being found.

The book ends, as does the parable, with the homecomings. Plural, because there are three: the prodigal son returning home after thinking he didn’t want to be there, the father returning home with his lost son to celebrate their reunion, and the older brother returning home and learning that his life has changed. We don’t know what happens to the men after this reunion. What we do know is that they return to the home and a loving father. As an introduction to this last section of the book there is a quote from Helmut Thielicke’s book, “The Waiting Father”. In part it reads, “The ultimate secret of this story is this: There is a homecoming for us all, because there is a home.”

So now I come to the title of Jerry’s book. For me, it provides the understanding of how we (once lost) have come to be welcomed to that special home, our Father’s house. The book is called And Grace Will Lead Me Home.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you have created us and given us this, your earth, as a place in which to live. We know, however, that our true home is with you and that despite our failings and at times being lost, you will welcome us to come live with you. Thank you for all the blessings you give us each day through your eternal love for us. Help us to show your love to others. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.