It's the male again, pinch-hitting for Mary Anne who is in emotional turmoil after seeing our oldest son off to Orlando once again.
Thinking about our sons and our relationships with them made me appreciate a recent news story and its ties with universal and timeless themes woven throughout humanity's broad narrative tapestry much more.
No matter what else you think about the Bible, it can't be denied that it has been the most influentual piece of literature in mankind's short history. Its myriad stories collectively cover most (if not all) of Polti's 36 plots, and Jesus's teaching via parables allows even those of us who are mentally dense (read: me!) to access deep philosophical concepts.
The parable that is most applicable to Ted Williams, who was the "homeless man with the golden voice", is the parable of the prodigal son.
Initially, Mr. Williams' story didn't intrigue me that much, though it warmed my heart a little. All I had seen was this video (also embedded below), which went viral a few days after its debut.
From the news coverage afterwards, I knew Mr. Williams had given himself over to alcohol, drugs, and crime in the past, and had been sober for awhile but had been reduced to begging on the road, and had some job offers after being (re)discovered. It was good to hear, especially in this economy, that someone so down on his luck and trying to scramble back up from a difficult position in his life was able to get back on his feet again.
But then another video surfaced. This one was his reunion with his mother. And it tugged at heartstrings that I don't like to admit I have.
A 53-year-old man calling his mother "Mommy", apologizing to her for being a disappointment, and showing her how he was thinking of her when he was redeemed from his wretchedness - it brought home the whole thing to me.
The prodigal son in Jesus's parable went back to his father to ask for a job as a farmhand, telling his father that he knew he wasn't even worthy of that because of his foolishness. His father's reaction - welcoming his son back, celebrating his being found again - was one that we all need to consider. It was a reaction that I know I have fallen short of as a father in particular and a human being in general. I have had more in common with the brother - who was more angry and jealous at his brother's return than joyous - than with the father. God help us - me - to be more like the father.
And may God continue to bless Ted Williams and his mother.