06-28-2007, 06:42 AM
A friend gave me the words to a song called "Carry on Wayward Son" and asked me to consider writing on this topic. After much procrastination on my part and with much encouragement from this friend -- I have relented and taken pen in hand. Again and again, I have tried to address these words but nothing would come. At last I been able to see the way to write.
It has been difficult because I have always felt that I was a Wayward Son. I left the denomination of my family and strove to rise above all the noise and confusion. I strove to get a glimpse beyond the illusion of so many contradictory teachings. Many friends and relatives considered me as a blind man or even a mad man but still I am determined to carry on. I am still determined to find out all I can about the teachings of the One God, Our Father.
Many pray for me to return to the fold, but I still hear a voice -- a still small voice when I am dreaming. I can hear it say:
Carry on my wayward son, for there'll be peace when you are done.
Carry on my wayward son, for you will always remember the way home.
Carry on my wayward son, because nothing equals the splendor of your journey.
Carry on my wayward son, your life is not empty but has purpose.
Carry on for your Father knows when you will return.
Throughout many trials and tribulations I have learned that I am neither blind nor mad, but have the feeling of peace and have not to worry about the stormy seas of emotion which toss people about. I have also learned that I cannot claim to be a wise man, for surely when I do, it means that I don't know everything I ought to know. Still I have been set on a journey which has but one end.
As I take this journey of being a wayward son, I will share with all who care to listen what I have learned.
I will acknowledge the One God in the presence of all the living for the good things He has done for me.
I will declare to all who care to listen the words and deeds of God.
I will declare the whole truth to you as I know it to be and will conceal nothing from you which I have learned.
Since this is a journey of learning and sharing, I will correct any of my mistakes as I am shown the error of my ways. In this way, through numerous corrections and much disciplining, I will correct my actions and words.
This I do know:
I know that God lives forever, and his kingdom lasts throughout all ages. I know that there is nothing that can escape his hand.
I know that God alone is our Lord and He is our God; He is our Father and He is God forever, for there is no other.
I know that if you turn to Him with all your heart and with all your soul and do what is true before Him, that He will turn to you and will not hide His face from you.
Wouldn't it be nice, if all the nations in the whole world would worship the One God in Truth, and in Righteousness they would praise the One eternal God. This may be but a dream!
I ask you to do your part, to serve God faithfully as you know how and to do what is pleasing is His sight. Do what is right as you understand it and be mindful of God. In all that you do, do it with sincerity and with all your strength so that God may look upon all your actions, words, and deeds with favor.
Many teachers, preachers, denominations, and sects today claim to have the exclusive knowledge and truth about God. Much of what is said and taught to the people today is not right.
It is time for us to come to the realization that:
When anyone claims exclusive rights to God they are putting God to the test. They are setting themselves up in the place of God in human affairs. When they try to put limits on God, they shut themselves off from any further learning.
When they do not know the depths of the human heart or understand the workings of the human mind; How can they expect to search out God, who made all these things? How can they find out His mind or comprehend His thought?
All that we can say to these people is: "Do not try to bind the purpose of the Lord God for He is not like a human being, to be controlled or threatened, or like a mere mortal to be won over by pleading."
Let us call upon the Lord God to help us, to show us the error of our ways. He will hear our voices. In spite of everything which we have experienced at the hands and mouths of man, let us give thanks to the Lord God, who is putting us to the test as He did our ancestors.
Let us always remember and consider that God has sent out his teachings into all His kingdom, to every province, in its own language, so that all may know the Way.
Let us always remember that God has dispersed His Wisdom from one end of the earth to the other and has ordered all things well.
When anyone loves righteousness, their labors are virtues which teach self-control and prudence, justice and courage for nothing in life is more profitable for us mortals than these.
When anyone longs for a wider experience, God through His wisdom will reveal the things of old and will infer the things to come. God will give us the means to understand the turns of speech and the knowledge to find the solutions to the riddles.
None of us can possess wisdom unless God gives her to us. It is said to be the first mark of insight to know whose gift she is. How else can we learn and perceive God's counsel, unless He has given us wisdom and set upon us His Holy Spirit?
For those of us who are wayward sons and daughters of the most High God, our Father, let us remember, it is He, through the gift of wisdom and His Holy Spirit, that sets our feet upon the right path. It is He who leads us to be taught what is right and gives us the wisdom to understand.
One of the first lessons we learn is that there is no other God whose care is for all people.
These are the words of the Holy One, the true one:
"I know your works. Look and See, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know you have little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. You have learned that I have loved you, because you have kept my word. You have learned that I reprove and discipline those whom I love."
Be earnest in your seeking. Be earnest now -- my wayward son, I look forward to your return. Listen! I am standing at the door -- waiting for you to complete your journey. If you hear my voice -- you know the door is open to you to come and go as you please. You are all welcomed when you return home from your journey. All my children, from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation, all are welcomed home.
When you return home you will see all your brothers and sisters who have been serving the purposes of God upon the earth. There will be a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, from all the tribes and peoples and languages, standing with me to welcome you home.
So carry on my wayward son, for there'll be peace when you are done.
Carry on my wayward son, for there is much left to be done.
Carry on my wayward son, your journey has just begun.
With Love,
Rev Dorris
Ref: Song -- Carry on wayward son, Artist: Kansas; Album: Leftoverture; Lyrics; Kerry Livgren
Bible Ref: Tobit, Judith, Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Revelations
It has been difficult because I have always felt that I was a Wayward Son. I left the denomination of my family and strove to rise above all the noise and confusion. I strove to get a glimpse beyond the illusion of so many contradictory teachings. Many friends and relatives considered me as a blind man or even a mad man but still I am determined to carry on. I am still determined to find out all I can about the teachings of the One God, Our Father.
Many pray for me to return to the fold, but I still hear a voice -- a still small voice when I am dreaming. I can hear it say:
Carry on my wayward son, for there'll be peace when you are done.
Carry on my wayward son, for you will always remember the way home.
Carry on my wayward son, because nothing equals the splendor of your journey.
Carry on my wayward son, your life is not empty but has purpose.
Carry on for your Father knows when you will return.
Throughout many trials and tribulations I have learned that I am neither blind nor mad, but have the feeling of peace and have not to worry about the stormy seas of emotion which toss people about. I have also learned that I cannot claim to be a wise man, for surely when I do, it means that I don't know everything I ought to know. Still I have been set on a journey which has but one end.
As I take this journey of being a wayward son, I will share with all who care to listen what I have learned.
I will acknowledge the One God in the presence of all the living for the good things He has done for me.
I will declare to all who care to listen the words and deeds of God.
I will declare the whole truth to you as I know it to be and will conceal nothing from you which I have learned.
Since this is a journey of learning and sharing, I will correct any of my mistakes as I am shown the error of my ways. In this way, through numerous corrections and much disciplining, I will correct my actions and words.
This I do know:
I know that God lives forever, and his kingdom lasts throughout all ages. I know that there is nothing that can escape his hand.
I know that God alone is our Lord and He is our God; He is our Father and He is God forever, for there is no other.
I know that if you turn to Him with all your heart and with all your soul and do what is true before Him, that He will turn to you and will not hide His face from you.
Wouldn't it be nice, if all the nations in the whole world would worship the One God in Truth, and in Righteousness they would praise the One eternal God. This may be but a dream!
I ask you to do your part, to serve God faithfully as you know how and to do what is pleasing is His sight. Do what is right as you understand it and be mindful of God. In all that you do, do it with sincerity and with all your strength so that God may look upon all your actions, words, and deeds with favor.
Many teachers, preachers, denominations, and sects today claim to have the exclusive knowledge and truth about God. Much of what is said and taught to the people today is not right.
It is time for us to come to the realization that:
When anyone claims exclusive rights to God they are putting God to the test. They are setting themselves up in the place of God in human affairs. When they try to put limits on God, they shut themselves off from any further learning.
When they do not know the depths of the human heart or understand the workings of the human mind; How can they expect to search out God, who made all these things? How can they find out His mind or comprehend His thought?
All that we can say to these people is: "Do not try to bind the purpose of the Lord God for He is not like a human being, to be controlled or threatened, or like a mere mortal to be won over by pleading."
Let us call upon the Lord God to help us, to show us the error of our ways. He will hear our voices. In spite of everything which we have experienced at the hands and mouths of man, let us give thanks to the Lord God, who is putting us to the test as He did our ancestors.
Let us always remember and consider that God has sent out his teachings into all His kingdom, to every province, in its own language, so that all may know the Way.
Let us always remember that God has dispersed His Wisdom from one end of the earth to the other and has ordered all things well.
When anyone loves righteousness, their labors are virtues which teach self-control and prudence, justice and courage for nothing in life is more profitable for us mortals than these.
When anyone longs for a wider experience, God through His wisdom will reveal the things of old and will infer the things to come. God will give us the means to understand the turns of speech and the knowledge to find the solutions to the riddles.
None of us can possess wisdom unless God gives her to us. It is said to be the first mark of insight to know whose gift she is. How else can we learn and perceive God's counsel, unless He has given us wisdom and set upon us His Holy Spirit?
For those of us who are wayward sons and daughters of the most High God, our Father, let us remember, it is He, through the gift of wisdom and His Holy Spirit, that sets our feet upon the right path. It is He who leads us to be taught what is right and gives us the wisdom to understand.
One of the first lessons we learn is that there is no other God whose care is for all people.
These are the words of the Holy One, the true one:
"I know your works. Look and See, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know you have little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. You have learned that I have loved you, because you have kept my word. You have learned that I reprove and discipline those whom I love."
Be earnest in your seeking. Be earnest now -- my wayward son, I look forward to your return. Listen! I am standing at the door -- waiting for you to complete your journey. If you hear my voice -- you know the door is open to you to come and go as you please. You are all welcomed when you return home from your journey. All my children, from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation, all are welcomed home.
When you return home you will see all your brothers and sisters who have been serving the purposes of God upon the earth. There will be a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, from all the tribes and peoples and languages, standing with me to welcome you home.
So carry on my wayward son, for there'll be peace when you are done.
Carry on my wayward son, for there is much left to be done.
Carry on my wayward son, your journey has just begun.
With Love,
Rev Dorris
Ref: Song -- Carry on wayward son, Artist: Kansas; Album: Leftoverture; Lyrics; Kerry Livgren
Bible Ref: Tobit, Judith, Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Revelations