By Sean Allen

My wife, Jamie, and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit St. Petersburg, Russia. What we looked forward to the most was visiting the Hermitage art museum. It houses the second largest collection of art, but we were particularly interested in one painting, Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son. It is a magical painting that brings to life one of the best known parables of Jesus.

Our experience with the painting began with one author’s reflection on how the parable and the painting interact with our lives. Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son is a must read for all. The book was inspired by his “chance encounter” with Rembrandt’s painting and is an intimate look at one man’s thoughts and reflections.

As Nouwen looks back on his life through lenses of the parable and painting, the reader is forced to do the same. With Nouwen walking beside me, I realized that despite how I am like both the younger son and the elder son, the challenge is to love as the father loves and be loved as the son is loved.

I have read this book three times, and each time my life is challenged and changed. You will not be disappointed with this illuminating look at a familiar parable.