The Prodigal Son - Stoic

THE PRODIGAL SON PART I — GIVE ME WHAT IS MINE There’s a road beyond the wheat field, There’s a world beyond this town, And I swear I hear it calling Every time the sun goes down. I have watched my father working, I have walked the rows beside him, But every fence becomes a prison When you're young enough to fight it. So I stood before my father, Wouldn't look him in the eye. Said, "Give me what is coming. Give me mine before you die." The room went still around us. My brother turned away. But Father never cursed me. He only said, "Okay." I took the silver from his hand, Took everything he'd saved. Never thought about the years Or what a thing like that would say. I left before the sunrise, With the whole world at my feet. And I never turned to see him Standing where the road meets wheat. Give me what is mine. Give me my name. Give me enough money To outrun where I came. I don't need your house. I don't need your rules. I was born to see the world. I was young enough To believe that was true. PART II — THE FAR COUNTRY There were lanterns in the windows, There was wine enough for ten. Everybody called me brother When I had enough to spend. I bought strangers' admiration. I bought lovers for the night. Funny how a purse full of silver Makes the wrong people seem right. Then the rain stopped falling. Then the fields turned brown. Then the last coin disappeared And my friends stopped coming 'round. Nobody knew my name then. Nobody owed me grace. The boy who left with everything Had nothing left to waste. This is the far country. This is where the road ends. Where the wine becomes a memory And strangers stop pretending they're your friends. I wanted freedom. I wanted everything. Now I'd trade this whole damned country For the sound of my father calling me. I found work among the animals, Mud halfway up my knees. So hungry I was staring At the garbage they would eat. And somewhere in that silence, I remembered bread. A table. A doorway. And something Father said. [Breakdown — nearly whispered] Even the servants eat. Even the servants sleep beneath his roof. I don't deserve to be his son. I know that now. I know the truth. I'll go home. I'll tell him everything. No excuses. No defense. No inheritance. No ring. I'll say: "Father, I have sinned Against Heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy To be called your son." PART III — WHILE I WAS STILL FAR AWAY I rehearsed it every mile. Every word. Every shame. How I'd stand before my father And surrender my own name. Then I saw the old house rising Past the fields I'd left behind. And I nearly turned around there, For the hundredth time. But someone stood there watching Where the old road crossed the grain. Same place I'd left him standing. And then— He ran. He ran. An old man through the wheat field. He ran. Like the years meant nothing now. Before I could say "I'm sorry," His arms were around me. And the speech I'd carried all those miles Wouldn't come out. Father, I have sinned against Heaven. I have sinned against you. I'm no longer worthy— Bring the robe. Bring the ring. Put shoes upon his feet. Open up the house tonight. My boy has come home to me. I thought home was where I'd started. I thought freedom meant goodbye. I thought mercy had a boundary I could somehow leave behind. But while I was still far away, Before confession could begin, My father saw me coming— And ran to bring me in. I spent everything you gave me. You are home. I have nothing left to offer. You are home. I don't deserve your name. You are my son. After everything I've done? You are my son. Bring the robe. Bring the ring. Let every empty room sing. What was lost has now been found. What was dead is living now. Bring the bread. Pour the wine. Let the lamps burn through the night. Because mercy saw him down the road And mercy didn't wait. Mercy ran. While I was still far away, Before I reached the door, Before I proved that I had changed, Before I offered anything more, Before I could repay the debt, Before my new life could begin— My father saw me coming And ran to bring me in. There’s a road beyond the wheat field. There’s a light outside the door. I went looking for a whole world... And found what I was looking for at home.