The parable of  the "Lost Boy" in Luke 15 is one of the best loved parables ever told by our Lord.  Think for a moment how the story might have gone in today's society.

A certain man had two sons and the younger said to him, "Father, give me that portion of your  time, attention, companionship, and counsel which falleth to me."  And his father divided unto him his life.  He paid the boy's bills, sent him to a elite school, and then to college.  The father believed all along that he was fulfilling his duty to his younger son.

Not many days later the father gathered his own interests, aspirations, and ambitions and travelled into a far country – into a land of business and investments.  There the father wasted his time and efforts and the opportunity to be a companion and counselor for his son.  After he had spent the best years of his life making and securing financial wealth, the father found no satisfaction in his accomplishments.  A famine began to grow in his heart.  The father  began to long for companionship and love.

The father went to one of the clubs of that land, hoping to find what seemed missing. He joined the club and they elected him president. They even sent him to congress.  Still he would liked to have had the "husks" of men's friendship, but no man gave unto him.   Finally, the father came to himself and said, "How many men of my acquaintance have sons whom they love and whom they understand.  They seem perfectly at ease in the companionship of their sons, and I perish with hunger of heart.  I know what I will do.  I will arise and go to my son and I will say unto him, ‘Son, I have sinned against thee and against heaven.  I am no longer worthy to be called your father.  Let me be as one of  your dear friends.' "

The father arose and went to visit his son.  While he was a long way off his son saw him coming and was moved with astonishment. Instead of running to his father and embracing him, the son drew back from him.  The father said, "Son, I have sinned against heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your father.  Let me be as one of your friends."  The son replied, "Not so, not so, I wish it were possible. There was a time when I longed for your companionship, but you were always too busy.  I found companionship elsewhere, but I got it in the wrong places.  I got advice, but not the right kind.  Now my life and soul are wrecked.  It is too late, too late!"

Adapted