"Returning Home"

Pastor Laura Guy

September 7, 2008

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We heard Pastor Laura talk about visiting the Iowa State Fair and the smell of the pig barn. Pigs have a very distinctive (and strong!) smell. Laura suggested that Jesus knew that smell, even though a Jewish boy wouldn't spend much time with pigs. Jesus was probably downwind of a pig farm at some point in his life.
We read the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-24, and we thought about the smell of the story. The son was spending his days in the pigpen, likely covered in the slop and smell of the pigs. It was at this moment, covered in pig smell, that he "came to himself." He saw himself and his life for what it really was. And he realized he wanted to go home again.
We saw that his father came running down the road to meet him, hugged him and kissed him. The father ran to greet the son, even in his smelly pig clothes.
We recognized that some of us have only focused on one part of this story, but Jesus wanted us to hear both parts. He wanted us to know that sin has a smell; it covers us. But when we head for home, our Heavenly Parent runs to greet us and embrace us, even in our smelly pig clothes. Without the pigpen moment, we can never fully experience the embrace. God's fragrance of grace overwhelms our pig smell, and we are cleaned inside and out, welcomed back as sons and daughters. This is how God forgives. No lectures, no scolding or punishments or even, "take a bath first." If we are to practice forgiveness in our own lives, we must first understand how God forgives.
We prayed that God would help us know both parts of this story, and that anyone who was ready to head for home would feel welcomed in their pig clothes.
We celebrated communion around the table where we are all welcome.