Theos-Talk Archives (October 1997 Message tt00021)

EaZi7@aol.com wrote:

> Bart, I'm reminded of the story of the Prodigal Son.  In light of
> what is presented above, how does one explain a fathers
> willingness to kill the fatted calf, and put his best robes on
> his son though he has thrown away and misused both his father's
> love and wealth?

Theosophically speaking, to me, it shows that the lessons not
learned in one lifetime may be learned in the next.

This reminds me of an event from a series of historical novels by
George MacDonald Fraser called the "Flashman" series.  They are
about a man (the Flashman from TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS, grown up)
who, although a bully, a coward, and a womanizer, somehow ends up
being a hero in every major historical event during the mid-late
18th century.  In the book, FLASHMAN AND THE GREAT GAME, where he
is involved in the Sepoy Mutiny, disguised as a Sepoy.  He
describes a Christian sermon given to the Indian soldiers, as
translated into Hindi.  The story is the one of the Prodigal Son,
and, as translated, it makes Christians out to be total fools.