I was thinking about the Parable of the Prodigal Son the other day, and I found myself wondering what the father felt as he watched his youngest son pack up and prepare to leave. Did he already have a parental intuition that this young man was making a terrible mistake and would wind up regretting it? Did he do anything special during those last few days—maybe throw a going away party, or have a final heart-to-heart with his son about the risks of living on your own?

I guess I picture the father as being rather sorrowful. Not sorry that the young man is seeking his independence necessarily, because as every parent knows, that is all part of the journey. Children grow up and move on. I think the sorrow came more from the realization that his son is now moving into a stage of life that is beyond the father’s protection, and more importantly, beyond his capacity to offer assistance.

I imagine that first week there were plenty of sleepless nights for the father, as he wondered what his son was experiencing, and whether he was still safe. No doubt, there were repeated trips to the mailbox to see if any letters had arrived … and every evening he sat out on the front porch, anxiously scanning the horizon.

And when the silhouette of his son finally does appear, the father can’t believe his eyes. His deepest prayers have been answered, and he rushes out to welcome the prodigal home.

All the way back, the son had tried to anticipate his father’s reaction. He had even rehearsed an apology—hoping that if the old man wouldn’t accept him as a son, he could at least be considered a servant. So imagine the young man’s surprise, when he actually sees his father racing toward him, with a broad smile and outstretched arms!

If you ask me, the point of the parable is to get us to picture God in the same way. We do not have a scorekeeping God who is ready to pounce on us the moment we break the rules. Nor do we have a grudge-holding God who is ready to scream at us, “See, I told you so. I bet you’re sorry now!” Who would want to go home to a God like that?

For those of you who have ever wondered how to feel closer to God, I think the first step is to know that we have a God who actually wants us to get close.

And the second step is to start making your way back—not in defeat or humiliation—but with the confidence that your return will be welcomed. Indeed, like the prodigal, you may not even get a chance to apologize for leaving in the first place. You may be welcomed home, simply because that is where you belong.

Which brings me to the final step … if you really want to feel close to God, then picture yourself being so far away that you are just a silhouette on the distant horizon, and then imagine God racing toward you, with a broad smile and outstretched arms!