Have you ever lost anything? Specifically, today we ponder if we have ever lost and found our truest identity. Do we consistently live from our truest essence? We may have one perspective of who we think we are as we interact with others, while other people may have a slightly differing perspective. The closer these perspectives are lived, who we think we are, who we want to be, and who others deem us to be; the more nearly we are living our truest essence.
What is our truest essence? The way we love as God loves, bringing God love into and through our expressions, interactions, engagements with others, self and God is living from our truest essence. It is that part of us that is so tenderly fragile, tenaciously strong, and courageous which has been imprinted on our soul through our physical birthing. The wonder for today is, have we ever lost and found or found and lost our truest self?
The Scripture
It is a family story. Yet it is a love story for all generations. The story of two sons and their relationship with the Father provides for us a picture of humanity and Divine compassionate love and mercy. The parable told by Jesus in Luke 15 is often called The Prodigal Son or perhaps more appropriately named The Compassionate Father. Either way we discover that the younger and elder sons both become lost from their truest essence. The younger boy is found as he claims and puts effort into restoration of relationship with the Father. The elder son leaves us wondering. Will his self-righteous anger keep him estranged from God, his brother, and his truest self?
Today’s Prayer Practice
What threatens to shake the foundation of your identity as God’s love incarnate through your living? What confirms this identity of your truest essence as God’s little incarnate love on earth?
Today you are invited to gaze up Rembrandt’s painting of The Prodigal Son. As you gaze prayerfully upon this painting consider each member of the family individually. You may find the chart below helpful for your prayer time.
| The Younger son | How and when was he lost? | How and when did he “come to himself” and claim his truest essence? | What shifted within him? What did he relinquish and what did he pick up? |
| The elder son | How and when was he lost? | How and when might he claim his truest essence? | We are left with a cliffhanger for the elder son. Will he claim his truest essence within him, relationship with the Father, and his brother? What will he need to relinquish and pick up from God? |
| The Father | How does he respond to the lostness of his sons? | What role does he play? When and how do you notice the Father’s compassionate love and mercy? | How does the Father hope for and assist both boys in claiming and living their truest identity? |
After you have considered each person within the family. Now is your Examen. When have you been lost and how has God provided hope and assistance for you to be found? Have you ever been found and then lost your identity? What is the invitation of God for you this day?
Please close your time of prayer with gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s compassionate love.
Enjoy praying.
