I Am Light

Book excerpt: The biblical story of the Prodigal Son is one of redemption, forgiveness, and compassion. In it, a young man leaves home and squanders his inheritance on sinful desires. He later returns-embarrassed and penniless-expecting to be thrown out by a hostile patriarch. Instead, his father is happy to find his son safe and longing to return. He welcomes him back with open arms and prepares a feast in celebration. Although the biblical tale is poignant in view of a son's relationship to his father, the journey is much more than a picture window into humanity. At its deepest, the story of the Prodigal Son is a metaphor for the story of man's relationship with a welcoming God-or higher power-that longs to reach out and embrace humankind. But first, humankind must realize its own limitations. Author Gary Layman, upon hitting his own emotional wall, cried out to the skies for inspiration. He found it, and he shares it in I Am Light: The Journey on the Prodigal Path. Seemingly ordinary events of our daily lives can lead to transcendent awareness. Through channeled writings, poetry, and bits of autobiography, Layman illuminates the way back to a higher power. Our return home will not lead to punishment but instead, personal liberation.