Big Me, Little Me

One of the lessons we can get from the story of the prodigal son, is a lesson about separation mentality.  The son left the father's house (separation).  We see the same thing with the story of Adam pulling away from God with a separation mindset.  This is also called dualism, and it often causes a sense of lack and frustration.  We see this when the prodigal experienced something that never happened in the father's house. 

"...there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want." (Luke 15:14)

Because of his neediness, he  "joined himself to a citizen of that country".  It reminds me of Adam trying to cover his nakedness by dressing like a tree and then hiding among them.  Or like Simba, in The Lion King, leaving his homeland to go and live like a warthog or a meerkat.  These are all examples of the identity crisis we have when we forget that we are heaven's offspring.

When we aren't aware of our eternal identity, we take on small identities.  They may not necessarily be wrong, but they are small, temporary, and and unfulfilling.  Our big identity is that of a child of God.  Think about that.  What a title!  What an existence!  What a reality!

The separation mindset allows us to exist oblivious to the truth.  We cleave to smaller identities, and we therefore over-identify with them.  Some of these identities are race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, physicality, personality, political affiliation, religion, profession, hobbies, and relationship status.

The prodigal eventually found out where he really belonged, and therefore became aware of who he truly was.  It was the same with Simba.  He remembered who his father was, which told him who he was.  And today, many humans are becoming aware of their union with their heavenly Father.

Please remember that you came from God, will forever be with God, and that you and your Father are one.  The truth makes us free!