Friday, September 29, 2023

 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS - JONAH

Last weekend, I read the Old Testament Book of Jonah.  

We know the story.

• God told Jonah to go to Ninevah

• Jonah didn’t want to go

• Jonah got on a ship going to Spain

• A bad storm came up

• The sailors drew lots, and Jonah was identified as running away from God

• The sailors threw Jonah overboard, and the storm immediately stopped

• Jonah was swallowed by a big fish (or whale)

• After three days, Jonah prayed, and the fish spit him out

• God told Jonah (again) to go to Ninevah

• This time, Jonah does - and preaches and the people repented

• Jonah is mad at God - he wants God to punish all the evil people of Ninevah

*****

So what Karen - a friendly reminder of Jonah - it sounds a little like a fairy tale anyway.

What are you trying to tell me?

Well, let’s see.

First - have you ever had something you didn’t want to do in front of you?

Did you want to run away? Did you run away?

I have dragged my feet on certain things.

We don’t want to do some things - but somehow, we have to grin and bear it. Maybe we’ve come to an impasse on our marriage and (ugh) have to face a divorce. Perhaps we’ve come to the end of a job, and (ugh, again) we have to quit. Or maybe we discovered that our boss is a liar and a cheat.

There might be times when it is appropriate to run away. (I generally don’t want to do this). If it is time to move on (like retire), do it with dignity.

Those decisions can be costly. I know people who quit their jobs based on incompatible values and without jobs or income. (Like recently some whistleblowers in Texas) 

*****

Second - maybe we didn’t end up in a whale, but in a pit (or in terrible depression) - and like Jonah, we’ve tried our “bag of tricks” and finally called on God. 

Yes, every week, I write one blog on spirituality - and here I am - admitting I don’t always think of God in my plans.

If I think of God (as I envision “Him/She/It/The Force”) as the infinite being of the universe - and I don’t look for him, I’m a hypocrite.

The God that I think is there - is somehow omnipresent - everywhere - all the time.  

Somebody is out there waiting for you to call on Him/Her!!!

*****

Third - so we repent (whatever that is). Are we big enough to say, “I made a mistake?”; “I was wrong.”

I call that “eating crow.”  Eating crow means humiliation by admitting you were wrong.   [I’m trying to think of an example - if I said, “The Sun rises in the south.”  I generally would be wrong - but if I am standing at the North Pole. The sun rises and sets in the south!!!.]

We have enough (too many?) braggarts - true humility is rare and exceptional.

*****

Fourth - am I one to “poo-poo” somebody else’s success?

Jonah was mad at God for forgiving the people of Ninevah. Jonah didn’t even get recognized as the person who warned the people of Ninevah. And, then, he was mad at God for working a great miracle.  

Jonah 4:2-3 Jonah says to God, “I knew you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

*****

Jonah has what I get frequently - selfishness. I don’t want to do that; I don’t want to be friendly and loving to that person/group, and then when it works out, I get upset. 

I want things “my way” (like Burger King’s ads - “have it your way”).  

Lord, help me to be open to your direction and call upon my life; let me talk about love, but even more importantly, let me REALLY love. 

I profess that LOVE WINS - but I need to walk the walk and talk the talk.

LOVE TRANSFORMS - am I changing into a butterfly or a kinder, more excellent human being?

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © SEPTEMBER 29, 2023