“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
The Face
This father’s seeing happens at a great way off, before the returning son has arrived close enough for ordinary recognition, before any explanation or apology has been offered, before anything about this return has been confirmed beyond the son’s own distant, still-approaching figure on the road.
This is worth noticing as a picture of seeing that precedes, rather than follows, genuine encounter and relationship. The father does not wait to see clearly, to confirm intentions, to hear the prepared explanation, before responding. He saw, and had compassion, and ran, all while the son was still a great way off.
This offers a needed picture of how you are seen even in your own returning, whatever form that return currently takes, however far off you may still feel from genuine closeness or resolution. This father’s seeing was not withheld until the distance had fully closed. It began the moment the figure appeared at all.
Whatever great way off you may currently feel, from God, from restoration, from whatever you are genuinely returning toward, receive this father’s example as your own. You are seen, and had compassion over, long before the distance has fully closed, the way this father saw his son while still far away.
Turn Your Face
- Consider whatever great way off currently describes your own sense of distance or return.
- Receive today that you are already seen, and had compassion over, before that distance has closed.
- Notice any belief that you must first arrive closer before genuine seeing and welcome begin.
Prayer
Lord, like this father, see me while I am still a great way off, and let your compassion run to meet me there, not wait until I have fully arrived or explained myself. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine seeing can precede, not merely follow, the closing of distance.