And Jonah stalked
to his shaded seat
and waited for God
to come around
to his way of thinking.
And God is still waiting for a host of Jonahs
to come around
to his way of loving.
-Thomas Carlisle's poem, “You! Jonah!”
Jonah waited for God to come around to his way of thinking, and God is still waiting for a host of Jonah's to come around to his way of loving. Wow. When I first read this poem at the beginning of the year, it blew me away. It is a short poem, but runs deep with such meaning and truth. Because don't we all do this to God in our own lives? Don't we have Jonah moments?
The story of Jonah never ceases to amaze me. It seems so absurd sometimes, that it took Jonah running away, God catching him in a storm, getting thrown overboard and eaten by a fish, and being thrown up by that very fish, to get Jonah to Ninevah. And when he got there, he still wasn't happy about it. Jonah still stalked around, and didn't understand why God wanted to save those people. He didn't want them to be extended grace. He was angry. Yet God still saved Ninevah. Even though Jonah stalked around, God still moved and worked. God used Jonah to accomplish his purpose.
But here's the catch. I think Jonah missed out. Big time. Because he was too busy being caught up in his anger. His heart was in the wrong place. He was too distracted by his own idea of what needed to happen. He missed out on the amazing miracle that the people of Ninevah, a godless, violent nation, turn completely to the living God.
I know I don't want to miss out because I'm too caught up in my own expectations, in my own distractions. In my own baggage. God offers us amazing opportunities to share his love and be a part of his miracles in life every single day. How do we respond when He offers those? Do we put aside our busy schedule, do we set our comfort aside and step out of the box? Do we run after the hope and share it with others? Or do we just ignore God's gentle beckoning, get lost in the routine of life, pick up our phones or get on our computers and Google something?
What are we missing out on? God will accomplish His will with us or without us. I know I have passed up opportunities. We all have. The question is now, will we continue to pass them up? Or will we commit ourselves to listening to that still small voice, and be a part of how God is moving? God is so much bigger than we can ever imagine. His will and plan will be accomplished, and He could do it all without us, if He chose to.
But the beautiful thing is, is that he extends this gift of allowing us to be a part of his work. I don't want to give that up, ever. Because if there's one thing I do know for sure, is that God always and will continue to blow me away every time I step out in faith and follow where He leads, and when I get involved in where He is inviting me.
This year will be full of moments where I will have the decision before me to step into his call, or to ignore it. I don't want to ignore it. I don't want to brush it away. I want to see all that He has for me, and to experience his love and faithfulness in all areas of life. I want to reach out to the least, and see His beautiful face shining through theirs. I want to come around to His way of loving.
So, are you going to wait for God to come around to your limited, feeble way of thinking, in a very limited perspective? Or are you going to step up and step out and find out His amazing, big picture, incredible way of loving? Will you accept His gift of allowing you to work with Him today in life?
