Not in any sense of prodigal ways
Back in those days I was never wayward
quite the opposite of the word
sandwiched in the middle of two loud personalities
heard only in attempts to save their wayward hides
they would both confide in me to represent them in our own family court
listening to the brutal truths
then sort out a game plan to save them from the impending wrath
there was no time out
or take a bath and go to bed at nine
go into their room with a belt or tree switch stem
because your butts
solely
and wholly
belonged to the both of them
but let me digress
when the path of my life leads me to destinations of confusion or distress
twists and turns
scrapes and burns
expected and when often I least expect
I find it best and proper to take a moment
and redirect
to find that Damascus Road moment on my road to Galilee
my flash transition from Saul to Paul
It is good and right to recall that time
to find the foundation from where I started
and redirect back to the point on the road
where I might have been wayward
where I might have once departed
and so today
I found my way back home
once more
I was alone with the two of you today
in the dimly lit mausoleum
the two of you
spirits looking down at me as I sat on the bench below
The glow of the eternal flames
twitching next to your eternal names
I had not been here in a long while
not living in close proximity to the area
chaos
confusion
hysteria
led me to the one place where things could always make sense
no middle of road or other side of the fence
your yea was yea
the nay was always nay without question
and I needed that direction today
so
I found my way back home
once more
I just stared at your name plate
taking a while to contemplate what you would do or say
how you would direct me in times like today
and the answer didn't take too long
responses short
but the responses always right and always strong
my lamp light relit
filled again with your eternal oil
sending me back on the Damascus Road to toil with a new perspective
a new approach to continue my trek
coming over me again like the spirit knocking Saul off his horse
setting my feet back again on the right course
and it was good and right that I realized where I needed to be
at this moment filled with so much uncertainty
I needed to be back home
on a mausoleum bench looking up at the two of you
soaking in your spiritual advice on what I must do
and so I rose to the floor
ready to face the rest of the day
and the rest of my life because
I found my way back home
to the two of you
once more