A child gone missing is one of the most heart breaking of tragedies. It goes into the news, up on the bulletin boards at WalMart, it’s a “Code Adam” in a retail store (named for Adam Walsh, son of John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted, who went missing from a Sears store when he was just six). In the US and Canada, May 25th is Missing Children’s Day, and there is a program called Light the Way Home. Light the Way Home asks that each family committed to finding missing children leave their porch light on the night of May 25th.
Chris Rice sings a song called “Home Tonight”, from the point of view of a prodigal son who’s decided to return home to his father. These lines from the chorus stuck out to me:
Burn Your fire on the altar,
Leave a candle on the porch,
I’m still too far away to see it but I’m aching for its warmth
A candle on the porch. For a missing child. Even if the child has chosen to leave, still a missing child who’s out there somewhere, cold, tired, hungry, and in danger. The prodigal son is asking the father to light his way home. All of which got me thinking.
When we see the missing children of this world: the homosexuals, the drug addicts, the prostitutes, devil worshippers, chronic drunks, runaways, theives, cons or murderers, do we see “things”, or do we see missing children who need a light left on for them? Are we looking past the dirt, the language and substances and lies to see the beloved child of God underneath? Or are we passing them by callously, ignoring the fact that they’re being dragged lower and lower into sin? Ignoring the fact that they need help?
Are we so afraid that we’ll end up sick that we refuse first aid? Or do we not realise that we’re sick, too?
We can’t stay blind. There are missing children out there.
Home Tonight
Chris Rice
I’ve come to my senses
How did I get so far from home
The lies dissipating
Revealing I’m so alone
And I remember now how strong love can be
And I wonder how did I ever leave
Burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I’m still too far away to see it
But I’m aching for its warmth
And I’m so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, ‘cause I’m comin’ home tonight
This isn’t the first time
I’ve wandered away from home before
You’d have every reason
To slam and dead-bolt the door
But I remember now how strong your love can be
And I wonder how you might welcome me
Burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I’m still too far away to see it
But I’m aching for its warmth
And I’m so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, ‘cause I’m comin’ home tonight
Into your arms, to my back yard
Where I used to play
How I miss the days…
So burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I’m still too far away to see it
But I’m aching for its warmth
And I’m so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, ‘cause I’m comin’ home tonight
