Jonah take Two

One of the reasons I think we make Jonah out to be a fishy farce of a story is because if we bring it too close to our hearts, we will see ourselves in Jonah . I have worn Jonah’s sandals when God calls me to go somewhere I would prefer not to go. I have pretended to be confused or said, “Sorry, God, bad cell reception in here. You are breaking up. I’ll call you back.” And then never try God back. To be sure, the Ninevites to whom Jonah was being sent to preach/convert, were those people. The enemy. Imagine God calling you to talk to someone who voted for the other candidate. God calling you to talk to that family member who pushes all your buttons. God calling you to go to that place where you are all uncomfortable and even a bit scared. I find myself saying, "Seriously, God, I would love to, but I am super busy right now." I have worn Jonah’s sandals when I idealize heading somewhere exotic because that what Tarshish still is. Even when our grandmothers s