{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Prayers for the Permanent Collection","title":"The Return of The Prodigal | The Clarity of The Father's Embrace","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":197,"description":"The Return of the Prodigal\n[...] So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.\nLuke 15:20\nThe Clarity of the Father’s Embrace\nFather,\nSorry it took me so long…So long to see your heart,so long to see my pride,so long to hear you calling, so long to hear my longing.\nI longed to run to you,but thought I was too little too late and too much too messed up.I squandered what you freely gave mesearching for love in the arms of lovers, who wanted me as long I didn’t askfor real caresses and long love,for a sincere kiss and a timeless embrace,for true companionship and not just a hookup.\nI longed to run to you,but was too ashamed to face you.I couldn’t look into your piercing eyes.They are too pure for my eyes.For I’ve seen folly and violence, I’ve looked at others’ bodies with lustand others’ things with envy.Your eyes are too pure for mine; I couldn’t look up to meet your gaze.\nI longed to run to you! I longed for your embrace!But my hands were dirty with my sin against youand my body muddy with the sin against me. I’ve touched forbidden money and forbidden bodies.My body knows the violence of abuse and the inhumanity of unwanted touch.How could I put these dirty hands around you?\nI longed to run to you.I longed to cling to your neck and weep on your chest,but where would I find the courage?\nOne all too frequent a dayof beers and brutality,lust and loneliness,I felt my soul exhaustedand my body tired.Exhausted of being numb and tired of the same hustling.\nSo I ran and I ran, looking for the One I longed for,unsure, but hoping I’d be welcomed.\nAnd there you were! In the middle of the road,arms open widegrin on your face,eyes filled with tears.\nI ran into your arms,expecting to hear, “What have you done?Where have you been?”But all I heard was “Welcome,welcome home my child. I’ve been waiting for you,longing for your face.I missed...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ecB9oF1Zt1WpqVBmlsCUKi05JtYwosraqr-jnsSGTuM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iZTlh/OGZmYmIzNjAwN2Iz/OGJhMTEzYTlhYjg1/NWIwZS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}