GC Debrief — the Party Did not Last

The party did not last.  It rarely does.

-thus Elder Uchtdorf, talking about the prodigal son.

I resent giving honors to struggling kids, though as an adult leader I do it myself.  But when other leaders do it, it bothers me.

Its the same reason the parable of the prodigal son has bothered me.

The general idea behind giving some kind of recognition to struggling kids is that they need it.  It will give them a boost.  Most of the kids in your ward or stake or summer camp come from good homes and are doing OK.  This one kid isn’t.  Some kind of recognition may just be the boost this one kid needs.

Here’s where I disagNof Christ, the kid isn’t doing good enough.  If the kid doesn’t converse with angels, the kid isn’t doing good enough.  No teenager and no adult is doing good enough.  Every single one needs a boost and encouragement.  Most of them are struggling even in our degraded understanding of struggling, facing real challenges with sin or adversity.  But with a true understanding of what is good enough, they are all struggling.  Some of them just happen to have the severe and deadly struggle of everyone around them telling them they are good enough and maybe even believing it.

Which brings me to the parable of the Prodigal Son.  The elder son points out the father has never thrown a feast for him.  The father responds that its ok because the elder son is inheriting everything (the younger son having already received his portion of the inheritance).  But its not OK.  The younger son got his inheritance and a feast for being wicked.  The elder son got his inheritance and no feast for being dutiful.  It is not OK.

Selfishly, I probably struggle with the parable because I think of myself as the elder son.  I think I am doing ‘good enough.’  Elder Uchtdorf’s talk prompted for me what was a startling question.

Who is the elder son?

My beloved brothers and sisters, dear friends, like all of the Savior’s parables, this one is not just about people living long ago. It’s about you and me, today.

Who among us has not departed from the path of holiness, foolishly thinking we could find more happiness going our own self-centered way?

Who among us has not felt humbled, brokenhearted, and desperate for forgiveness and mercy?

I think the elder son represents Christ.  It would be consistent with the sense of humor Christ had in the gospels for him to tell a parable where he secretly points out the unfairness of the deal vis a vis him and us but also reaffirms that He will inherit everything the father has and that we will live as heirs not by right, having squandered our inheritance, but by grace.