The risk of letting go

Liz Crumlish March 03, 2021 0 3

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Luke 15: 25-28 (NRSVA)

25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.

The other son 

The one who played it safe

The one who stayed

Kept things going

Did the right thing

All the while grudging the burden he had taken on

Seeing the prodigal return

to a hero’s welcome

there was no room left

in the elder brother

for celebration

or forgiveness

In playing it safe,

he’d already filled up

on resentment

and bitterness

And left no room for grace 

in a heart filled with grudge

No room for growth

in a life stunted with grief

No room for vision

in eyes misted with rage

Blinded to the abundance 

that was his for the taking

he chose to hold on to

his sense of loss

rather than risk reaching for a new lens 

that might reveal a whole new vista of possibility.

Sometimes

it’s just easier

to hold on to hurt

and disillusionment

than to open ourselves

to the transformative nature

of reframing the past

and re-imagining

the future

When we’ve been there

done that 

and already have the T shirt

our wounds become

our protective layer

an outer shell

that keeps us safe.

Elder brother status

is hard won

and even harder

to let go.

God when we back ourselves into dark corners like this, lead us again to the light of your love and the warmth of your arms.