Never cease loving a person and never give up hope for him, for even the Prodigal Son who had fallen most low could still be saved. The bitterest enemy and also he who was your friend could again be your friend; love that has grown cold can kindle again.
~Søren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
~ Jesus, King of The Universe in Luke 15
Oh that all things could be resolved. All things are possible. And even though we are joined to the Quickening Spirit, many things take exceedingly longer than we desire. Sometimes they take longer than this life.
This writer is both the cause and bearer of great pain. His former life brought upon his children an anger and disillusionment that has taken years to mend. And in only one of his children is the span of relational distance fully re-bridged. Three others are still at a distance. And of those three, threads of varying communication exist, but just barely. And with one of those, the Father-daughter relationship is seemingly dead.
And there is, with this seeming deadness, a dull and aching hiraeth that sometimes comes like a flood. The longing for the child to return to relationship with her dad, sometimes (literally) drives me to my knees. i know for sure i am whole and real and alive and vital apart from knowing my daughter as i used to. But the fullness which would come from reconciliation is something i deeply desire.
And this is very good news. This is the Father’s heart for each of us.
Can we see it? The Love of the Father is the Love which does the impossible.
His Love covers a multitude of sins.
His Love casts out fear.
His Love ignites our love for Him.
His Love gives of His own for us.
His Love heals our wounds.
His Love holds Himself together in communion of Trinity.
His Love is as strong as death, and many waters cannot quench it.
His Love is steadfast and does not fail.
This is the Father’s heart for each of us. And this is the Love He gives us for our children. So, it is not the job of the child to love the father. It is, however, the joyful mission of a father to love the child. And so, this fool of a writer and dad looks across an ocean which is greater in distance than the 15,700 km which separates us in time and space – and waits.
Can we see it? Love never fails. For it is one-directional. If one truly decides to truly Love another, there is nothing that changes if that Love is not returned. Oh, Love in return is greatly welcome, but it is not relevant to the Love being given.
And it does seem that this goes even further. One-directional Love is the only Love which can even really be reciprocated. For any other “love” is just a facsimile or twisting of the real thing. And any Love given in return (even if sincere) has been somehow bought or stolen.
