When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.”- Luke 15:17-19
Kyle Idleman begins Chapter 5 (“Talking to Yourself”) of AHA by stating that AHA encompasses more than just an awakening. AHA requires honesty- brutal honesty. When the Prodigal Son came to his senses, there was no one else around- just him and the pigs. As Pastor Idleman notes, sometimes the hardest conversation to have is with yourself: “AHA requires you to tell the truth about yourself to yourself.”
Truth be told, we’d prefer the awakening without the brutal honesty. But avoiding brutal honesty short-circuits lasting change. Recognition must lead to repentance, confession to conviction. In her book The Art of the Public Grovel, Susan Wise Bruner makes a helpful distinction between regret and repentance, between an apology and a confession:
“An apology is an expression of regret: I am sorry. A confession is an admission of fault: I am sorry because I did wrong. I sinned.”
Today’s question: What brought you to your senses during your stay in the Distant Country? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Turn around”
