On a desolate land fronting a majestic castle, footprints of despairing hope marks the pathway to the entrance gate. Numb as a beetle, the once robust shoulders became a yoke of failure. The proud hands could no longer wave boastfully but could only silently trace the rugged walls to the steel opening. After a few tries, the solemn shadow was successful in opening the doors, slowly, unlike the way he did when he left this castle.
It was not so long ago when he decided to make a mark of his own. To live life and enjoy everything at the expense of his father’s riches. Beautiful women collide with a delightful feast of his favorite foods. Expensive jewelries adorn his mortal body making him like the King of Egypt. Feasting as if it’s his last breath. Not looking back nor staring forward, he is stuck in a limbo of dancing dreams. His hopes where nowhere to be found, having everything in his hands. He thought glory went home to his heart and his pockets could spell anything that he wants.
Unfortunately he was wrong.
Not until he found himself eating with swines. Not until he could not figure out the difference between his sweat and his tears, especially if it’s on the tip of his tongues. Not until the silk that covers his soft skin became garments that even snakes would refuse to wear. How long did it take before the sky kissed the ground? Where are his friends who drank pure wine with him? There’s one, he looked familiar. Yes, it was the man on the bar. He spent so much money for that man’s drink. And that lady in black, she was all over her last night.
But what was in their eyes?
Don’t they know him? Have they forgotten the same man whom they shared high spirits on a single table?
It’s too late. They took off already. Back to the swine.
He never had eye contact with a pig before, nor did he notice that when pigs eat, it doesn’t matter where it came from. They just swallow every thing that their mouth could take. And as he was more than familiarized with their smell and the touch of their skin. He remembered one thing.
Yes, he remembered he has a father. He could ask his father to make him his slave at least he could have a nice place to sleep. Surely, his father can’t forgive him, but he could hire him as a servant to their household.
It was a long walk from town. Now he is finally in front of their house. Expecting the claws of his father’s rage and mimicking a hopeless dove in front of a blazing furnace, he walks slowly. The silence of the mist that surrounds their garden is music to his ears. He thought there was no one home that time, it was very calm. Why not? It was the late hour of the night. Everybody must be asleep. He starts to turn his back, and decides to come back tomorrow. As he takes the first step towards the gate, he heard a rushing sound of feet pounding the ground, with utmost desire to reach him, it was someone running. The sound gets louder as the feet gets closer; he could hear the hard breathing on that person’s chest. He could be wrong; tears are starting to cover his cheeks. He is too ashamed to look at the person’s face. Until the running stops, the hard breathing is now covering his own chest, why could he not move? Because there was a tight embrace wrapping his frail body. He could not take it anymore. He lifted his head to see his father’s eyes. And before he could speak one single word, all his strength was chastised by one single word from his father’s lips. “Son”
They shared a few steps towards the house, and it was only now that he noticed he was not wearing any slippers. He saw his father looking at his dirt worn feet. Smiling at him, his father said….
"Here is a pair of slippers for your tired feet my son!"
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
Isaiah 43:25 (Today’s New International Version)
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