Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

The elder son’s actions shows how the beloved can be depressed because he thinks he should receive greater love because he has done all the right things (i.e., that he has met these qualifications). The father alone understands how to love and forgive and is able to do so and be happy.

The reflective practitioner is someone who thinks about what they are doing and then consider how they could have done it better. It is assumed that one who becomes a practitioner usually knows more than they are able to say. Take for example Henri Nouwen’s writing and reflection on the story of the return of the prodigal son as depicted by the painting of Rembrandt. The picture shows the younger son kneeling and we assume that he is asking the father for forgiveness, having come to his senses after a time of riotous and wanton living. He is reflecting on his past mistakes as his father stretches out his hand in affirmation that he is still welcomed back to his rightful place. The assumed reflection by the younger son is juxtaposed against that of the older son who looks on with a sense of “Father how could you!” and as Jesus stated in the short story in Luke 15:11-32, a sense of disgust, rage and anger must have welled up in the older son’s spirit as the story unfolded.

The younger had wandered, prayed for repentance and received it unconditionally whilst the older son who done all the right things was gob-smacked at what he was witnessing.

Without the art of reflection we too can become like the older son in the story. We have been faithfully attending our church, doing what we know to be right without realising that God answers the prayers of those who cry out from the gutter from a position of desperation. The art of reflection has little capital until it is put into practice and become part of what you do. That is, my reflection must be followed up by action or else it becomes just verbalism. Like the older son who represents the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, we can reflect and criticise but if we do nothing then our spirituality and prayer life becomes vain and a waste of time.

Today pray and exercise your faith by doing something, then reflect and do it better next time. Action, reflection then better action is the way forward.

Read Luke 15:11-32