On Sunday I told the story of Jonah. Most folks know the part about Jonah being gobbled up by a whale. But there is so much more to the story than that. We know that it is a story about Jonah running away from God or from the responsibilities that God called him to. But the rationale Jonah actually gives for his action is a bit surprising.  He is an anti-hero in the classic sense and his excuses, self-pity, and myopic viewpoints seem to fit our own modern predicaments in very uncomfortable ways.

Jonah is a follower of Yahweh and a member of a nation who follows the one true God. He is asked by God to go to the capitol of the Assyrian Empire, Nineveh and preach their coming destruction if they refuse to repent.  They are enemies of Jonah's people and a real threat to them.  

Instead of leaving for Nineveh, Jonah runs quickly in in the opposite direction and catches a boat to Tarshish (“the end of the world”).  During a storm at sea, Jonah is tossed overboard and swallowed by the whale. After three days and a minimally contrite prayer, Jonah is spit up on dry land and heads to Nineveh. 

During the 40 days of his preaching in Nineveh, the people of the city repent and God spares their destruction. Jonah is not happy.  In fact, he admits that this was the very reason he didn’t want the job originally – he just knew God would spare the evil foreigners in Nineveh because God is a forgiving God.  

Jonah then goes outside the city to sit in the hot sun and pout … and await God's punishment of the city. Instead, God makes a bush grow to shade him one day and then sends a worm to harm the roots and destroy the bush the next day.

Jonah once again sits in the hot sun, wishing he were dead, and God scolds him for feeling so sad about the death of a bush, but not about the 120,000 people whom God spared from death in the city.

Consider the following questions in your time of meditation or as you reflect in your journal this week:

The cycle of death and resurrection is central to the Christian faith (Jonah falls into the deep ocean and ends up in the belly of a whale – certainly a form of death).

• In what ways is that cycle present in my life right now?  
• Where might there be necessary change, suffering, death and decay and how might new life emerge from those experiences?

​Consider reading the story of Elijah and his 40 day journey to meet God at Mt. Horeb (1 Kings, chapters 17-19).

In the story, Elijah is summoned to come out of his cave to meet God. When he does, he is greeted with a mighty wind (tornado?). Elijah thinks that surely God has come like a strong wind; however, God is not in the tornado. Then the earth begins shaking. Again, Elijah thinks that surely God is in the earthquake since God is mighty enough to move mountains. But again God is not in the earthquake. Finally, a great fire engulfs all that is Elijah. The God we know from other Bible stories often comes like fire! But again, God is not in the fire. And when God finally speaks to Elijah, it is but a whisper in the "sheer silence."

Sometimes we must alter our expectations so we do not miss out on the Divine's activity in our life. Sometimes we must also adjust our hearing so we don't miss those voices God uses to reach us.

This Lent, are you willing to let God to "blow away," "shake up," or "put down" your old routines and expectations?

Consider the words of our Lenten handout:

​"Lent is a time to listen to God, but sometimes God speaks through others, particularly the poor, oppressed, marginalized and suffering.  To whom should you be listening this season?  How can you cultivate a listening posture towards others whose perspective and experiences might differ from your own?"

Consider sitting in silence this week and looking at images of refugees or the homeless in our own city. And just listen...

If you are keeping a journal this, Lent please consider adding some of your thoughts and inspiration/learnings to this blog!