Already Forgiven

One of the reasons why I like the story of "The Prodigal Son," is that the father is not holding a grudge at all. No affront or slight is ever taken and the father is obviously a very wise man in every version of the tale. The father is bestowed with riches and is generous. He loves deeply. The unforgiving quality is perceived on the part of the son only and this perception dictates his actions. Until I understood this part of the story, I never did comprehend it as much as I do now.

In this wonderful dream that helps me understand, I make a pilgrimage to see a miraculous statue of great legend. When I arrive I see what appears to be a life-sized statue of the Virgin Mary done in the traditional blue and white colors. I look carefully at the statue to see what the miracle is. Does it cry tears of blood? Do miracle waters flow from her tears? Are people healed simply at the site of the statue? Perhaps visions appear here. Waiting, I watch and ponder the possibilities and impossibilities.

When I go to see certain works of religious art, many people often leave tokens of affection and gifts in the form of requests. Sometimes people place flowers on and around the statue. Often there are pictures and news stories so that people will pray for someone who is ill or those already passed on. In my dream I search around the statue to do my part in praying for requests. This statue only bears one simple gift... a scarf tied loosely around the Virgin Mary's neck that is waving softly in the wind.

"Why would someone wrap a scarf around the neck of this statue?" I wonder. Is it a loving gesture of warmth? Perhaps it is a mother's touch of keeping someone safe, warm and cozy. Is this a symbolic tribute of warmth for the Mother of God? At this point in my thoughts, a man comes along with a suitcase, removes the scarf from the statue, opens the suitcase and places the scarf securely within it. He smartly closes the case and simply leaves. Shocked, I have much more to wonder about as I watch the man walk off! I had never witnessed a person taking a holy gift before. Perhaps I should have stopped him, but what stops me is not understanding his need to take the scarf. How can I stop someone when I don't understand why they would need something like this so badly?

Looking back at the statue I find, to my great surprise, that the scarf is still around the Great Mother's neck waving in the soft breeze. A woman comes along and as she walks by she pulls on one end of the scarf, unwrapping it as she moves and places it about her own neck. Again when I look back the same scarf is still on the statue! Over and over people pass by and, in some way or another, they appear to take the scarf! Every time, the same scarf appears around the statue!

Finally, a monk sees me watching the comings and goings of the people. He gestures to the statue. "That is the miracle," he says. "The scarf is forgiveness. It can be passed on over and over again, but it is never truly lost."

This is one of the first time the father's feelings and actions from the story have ever sunk in. The people who are accepting forgiveness are taking action, embracing it themselves, putting forgiveness in a safe place, and wrapping it around themselves. It is always there and we only have to participate and accept it. The statue simply stands there. Everyone calls this a miracle.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



For further online exploration of the Prodigal Son visit The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Christianity and Buddhism: http://www.comparativereligion.com/prodigal.html Includes the Biblical text in the Gospel According to Luke and a Similar Buddhist parable! The page includes an overview of the stories and meanings. This is from the site, "Many Paths to One Goal."