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...