PRODIGAL
I LEFT MY HOME SOMETIME AGO
SO FOOLISHLY, SMUG AND VAIN
AND ALL I'VE THOUGHT OF SINCE I LEFT
IS GOING BACK HOME AGAIN.
I LEFT MY FATHER'S LAVISH MANSION
TO KNEEL IN THE MUD WITH THE SWINE
I HUDDLED AND FOUGHT FOR A BIT OF CORN HUSK
ON WHICH I WOULD HUNGRILY DINE.
SOMEHOW I THOUGHT THAT THINGS WOULD GET BETTER
AS I MADE MY OWN WAY THROUGH MY LIFE
WITHOUT HELP OR HAND FROM, GOD, SON OR MAN
BUT ALL I FOUND OUT THERE WAS STRIFE.
MY FATHER GAVE ME A GREAT INHERITANCE
AND I SQUANDERED AND THREW IT AWAY
ON PLEASURES AND LEISURES AND THINGS OF THE WORLD
AND SHAME IS ALL I HAVE TODAY.
HOW COULD I BETRAY MY FATHER'S TRUST?
HOW COULD I TURN AND LEAVE?
HOW COULD I LAUGH AND DANCE AWAY
AND LEAVE HIM THERE TO GRIEVE?
I NEVER PLANNED TO DO IT
I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD
TO BACKSLIDE WAS A FOREIGN THOUGHT
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD.
I WONDER WHAT HE'D SAY TO ME NOW
IF I GAVE HIM AN OVERDUE CALL
HOW CAN I TELL HIM THAT I HAVE NOTHING LEFT
BUT LOST EVERYTHING IN THE FALL.
PERHAPS HE'LL LET ME SLEEP IN HIS BARN
AND THROW ME SOME CRUMBS EVERY NIGHT
PERHAPS HE'LL SCORN ME AND SCOURGE ME WITH WHIPS
AND TELL ME TO KEEP OUT OF SIGHT.
I WONDER WHAT MY BROTHER IS DOING
HE'S PROBABLY ARRAYED NOW SO FINE
EATING AND DRINKING AND TAKING HIS EASE
AND OWNING ALL THAT WAS ONCE PARTIALLY MINE.
MY FATHER PROBABLY LOVES HIM SO
AND HATES MY VERY NAME
HE PROBABLY LAVISHES HIS PRAISES ON HIM
AND NEVER WANTS TO SEE ME AGAIN.
WELL, TELL ME WHAT I HAVE TO LOSE
I'M SICK AND GASPING FOR BREATH
I FOUND THAT THE HEALTH AND THE WEALTH OF THE WORLD
WAS JUST EMPTY, DISILLUSIONING DEATH.
I SEE THE EDGE OF MY FATHER'S ESTATE
THE WHEAT FIELDS AND CORNFIELDS SO GREEN
I SEE THE GARDENS OVERFLOWING WITH PRODUCE
IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT I HAVE SEEN.
THERE ARE THE HORSES I USED TO RIDE
THERE COMES THE FATTED CALF
MY HUNGER KNAWS WITHIN MY FLESH
LIKE IT'S TEARING MY STOMACH IN HALF.
MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND IS WORKING THE FIELDS
MY BROTHER IS PICKING THE FRUIT
BUT WHERE IS MY FATHER AND WILL I SOON FEEL
ON MY POOR RAGGED BACKSIDE.....HIS BOOT?
AND SUDDENLY I SEE HIM THERE AT THE DOOR
AND OH, I MUST HAVE BLINDED EYES!
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S A SMILE ON HIS FACE
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HIS ARMS ARE THROWN WIDE!
ONE STEP AND TWO AND NOW I AM RUNNING
AND MY FATHER IS RUNNING TOWARDS ME
ONE KISS, ONE EMBRACE AND NOW I AM WEEPING
AND MY FATHER IS WEEPING WITH ME.
" KILL THAT FATTED CALF!" SAYS HE
TO THE SERVANTS AS FEAR FLEES AWAY
"LAY ON THE TABLE A FEAST FOR A KING
AND TELL ALL, COME TO OUR HOLIDAY!"
NOW MY FATHER TAKES ME IN HIS ARMS
THE PLACE WHERE I KNOW I BELONG
HE PLACES HIS ROBE UPON MY TIRED SHOULDERS
AND SAYS TO ME SOFTLY "YOU'RE HOME."
by Voo
when I first came to know the Lord
The Prodigal Son Story (Luke 15:11-32