I read a story about a young man from a good home who wanted to explore the world. He asked his father if he could leave the family business and have some money to fulfil his dreams. The father could see that his son was restless and would not settle until he had lived out his dream, so he reluctantly agreed to give his son the money. The son was delighted and immediately made plans for the trip of a lifetime. Within a short time the son was off around the world taking in all the sights and sounds of different cities. Within a few short months his money had gone, he didn’t know how he’d spent it but he knew he had plenty of friends and they would help him out. But in no time these friends disappeared. The son was too proud to go back home and so he got various jobs. Eventually the son realised that he was wasting his life away in dead end jobs when he could at least have a decent job back at his father’s business. So the son decided to go back ‘cap in hand’. It was a long journey back home; the son knew he would have to swallow his pride and say sorry to his father. Even before he got near the house the father ran out to meet him and welcomed him back. It was the son’s desire to be free that made him ‘fly the nest’ but in turning away from the father he realised the poverty of his life, the reckless way he had used the gifts that had been given him. It was only when the son returned to the father that he realised the blessings he had. Freedom is not about having money and possessions, freedom is being surrounded by people who love you and accept you as you are. Our society is full of prodigals who search for freedom in money and fame but will only ever really find it when they acknowledge God in their life and value the love of their family and friends.  

By Rev. Peter Bates, Methodist minister for Dewsbury. 

On Behalf of the Churches Together in Dewsbury.