Who Knows?

Gaudete!

We all know the story of the Prodigal Son.

The younger kid asks for his inheritance in advance. Goes off for however long to live it up, spending his money on all the wine, women & song he can with whatever he has. When it’s all gone and his friends have then abandoned him, he goes back home. His dad sees him and runs to welcome him home. Every homily and sermon I’ve ever heard on this particular portion of Luke’s Gospel focus in on the dad or the younger son. They are, after all, the main characters. The older son seemingly a minor character

When we bought our car it came with Sirius XM and with that The Catholic Channel. One of the hosts has been traveling this year, doing his show from where ever. The other day he interviewed Bishop Daniel Flores, local Ordinary of the Diocese of Brownsville, TX. AS they talked Bishop Flores happened to mention the story of the Prodigal Son. The interesting thing that he pointed out is that at the end of the story, when the Father goes out to talk to the older son we’re left hanging. The story ends with, ”He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”. We don’t know if the older son accepted the invitation to go in and celebrate his brothers return home.

I have to admit to tuning out to the rest of the interview and pondering this. I got to thinking about family and Church Family and forgiveness and patience and kindness. Of those moments when I’m not welcoming and impatient. Do I have room in my heart? Honestly sometimes the answer is no, I don’t. And with that no sometimes there is what I consider good reason. But sometimes I think is this what God wants? I don’t know. Is it an unforgiving spirit or is it self-protection with good cause? Is it an attitude that needs adjusting? Do I rejoice or mumble under my breath and complain?

What is my response to what is God asking me, inviting me to forgive and celebrate?

And then I give consideration to my presence in the quilting world asking a lot of the same questions. The answer remains the same: sometimes. Sometimes my response is feelings driven and my heart closes; sometimes my heart is open. Sometimes I live up to my potential and sometimes I don’t. It’s all part of this Journey.

Seeing something new in this Gospel reminds me to look for something new, or look again at something in quilting. Perhaps it’s not in the quilt making itself, perhaps it’s in the welcoming, value and personal judging. Perhaps it’s in actively listening and responding better. Perhaps it’s in letting go (you’re singing that now aren’t you).

Last night and old friend (and by old I mean long time) friend asked me about my 2015 Word of the Year, Journey. The conversation matters only in that we had a conversation that will lead to another conversation. I mentioned a while ago that I’d been struggling with my faith. I’m in a decent place right now, mostly because I know deep down that I have a relationship with God, my Father; that ultimately this relationship is all about Love (and I do not mean that sappy movie crap where it’s all sunshine and roses and wrapped up well and happy in 2 hours). That struggle is part of the Journey to being secure in His Love. The Journey is how I respond to that Love both in word and in deed.
This Journey is also about seeing where I’m going in quilting. I’ve thought long and hard about where I’d like to be in five years and I’ve come to the understanding it doesn’t matter any more. I’m going to enjoy where ever this is going. I’m going to allow God to lead on this path. I honestly don’t know what goals I’d like to set anymore. Not because I’ve attained them but because I really want to be open. No matter where this quilting story goes I’m blessed. I get to do something I love, quilt. I get to use the skills that God has given me. And I get to teach. I get to encourage and support others in their quilting journey. To me, it doesn’t get any better than that.

I think this Pondering into Journey is going to be fabulous.

God bless!

Teri