I was raised in the church. I’ve heard the “Prodigal Son” story more times than I could recall. But tonight I heard it in a new way, while looking through the eyes of the older, loyal brother who became so angry when his father made such a big to-do about his unreliable, irresponsible, selfish brother’s return home.
I found myself thinking about how aggravated I can get at work, when I feel that I am responsibly following the rules while others are shirking them. I often feel as if I’m giving my best effort when others appear to be just skating by, barely performing at an average level. Sometimes I feel that way in personal relationships too – whether dating relationships, family relationships, or friendships. It’s like sometimes I start keeping score, rather than taking my own advice and attending to my own affairs instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing and why. In all honesty, I can fall into the trap of feeling superior to others when I turn a blind eye to my shortcomings, focus on the things I’m doing well, and contrast that to others who fall short in the areas where I excel.
As a manager, I still must have performance standards for employees, and must coach them to meet these standards and evaluate them accordingly. But as a person, I need to realize that I don’t get any extra credit for being “on track” longer than someone else. What’s important is that the lost are eventually found. And true forgiveness means truly letting go of what came before redemption.
