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Chronicle of a Young Man Who Ran Away From Home

 

Introduction

 

          This is a modern day scenario of the prodigal son found in Luke 15: 11-24.  This article traces the stages that a young man may go through if he chooses to run away from home.  We will take note of his attitude, his thoughts, his fears and the anxiety he suffers as he faces the reality that he made a foolish mistake.  We will call him Charlie.  We will assume that he left home with $1000.00.

 

Stage I.   (Jubilation)

 

A.  Charlie is congratulating himself for the step he has taken.

B.  There are moments of regret, but they are suppressed by the excitement of the liberty he now has.

C.  For the first time in his life he is reveling in the liberty to make his

own decisions without having to ask permission.

D.  He dreams of the great success he will have in life.

E.  In a short time he anticipates having a good paying job.

 

Stage II.  (Concern)

 

A.  Charlie’s money is going faster than he anticipated.

B.  He wonders what he will do if the day comes when he is broke.

C.  He consoles himself with the thought of finding a good job.

D.  He thinks “Only fools are willing to work for minimum wage.”

E.  “My clothes are wearing out.”

F.  “Every day I have less money.”

 

Stage III.  (Greater concern)

 

A.  Every where he applies for a job they tell him that he is to young or that he

doesn’t have enough education for the job.

B.  He assures himself “Somewhere, and soon, I’m going to find a

good job.”

C.  He often cries at night because he is homesick and worried about his

economic situation.

D.  He is still too proud to even consider going back home.

 

Stage IV.  (Anxious concern)

 

A.  Charlie is forced to cut back more and more on his life style.

He often goes without eating and has no heat in his humble room.

B.  His heart is filled with bitterness toward society that offers

neither charity nor employment.

C.  He tries to convince himself that after just a few more days of

sacrifice everything will be better.

D.  He is grieved by the fact that he doesn’t have enough money to

enjoy any of the luxuries of life, even though no one says he can’t.

E.  The temptation to go back home comes more frequently, but he says,

“No, it’s not time yet.  I would be ashamed to do that.  It’s best to

wait until I get a good job.  Then I can go home with money in my

pockets.”

 

Stage V.  (Desperation)

 

A.  Charlie’s money is all gone.

B.  He eats what he can find in garbage cans and by begging in

restaurants.

C.  Friends he had when he had money now laugh at him.

D.  He is aware of the fact that he has a bad odor because it’s been

a long time since he had a bath and clean clothes to put on.

E.  He has more and more bitterness and thinks of taking vengeance on

society because no one seems to care.

F.  He fears the police may pick him up and throw him in jail for

vagrancy.

G.  He thinks more and more about going home, but he doesn’t now

what he would say.

 

Stage VI.  (Back home)

 

A.  Charlie decides to go back to his old neighborhood in hopes someone

will recognize him and take him home.  He reasons, “That way

it will look like I came against my will.”

B.  After several days no one recognizes him.  Everyone is busy about

their life and don’t take time for a vagabond boy.

C.  He suffers from hunger pains.

D.  He crawls out from under a hedge where he spent the night.

E.  He walks to the door of his house humiliated, ashamed, but willing to

appreciate his parents and his home.

 

Conclusion

 

Young person: are you grateful for your parents and your home?  Perhaps your parents haven’t been all they should have been, but they love you.  As you can see, running away isn’t the solution.  Make the best of your situation and do what you can to make it better. “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother” (Proverbs 15:20)

 

Our e-mail address is rusandmargaretgeorge@windstream.net

 

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