Today Jonah is my kin

I am glad the book of Jonah is contained in the Bible.  Jonah*s recalcitrance, his reluctance to follow what God would have him do, gives me hope.  On days when I know God has placed me where He wants me, and I have a better idea, which of course, is not better, Jonah gives me hope, even when I don*t see the way home.

Today Jonah

Is my kin,

My brother under the skin.

I sit under the plant

On the beach,

Look out to the sea

Under the plant

God has grown

To give me shade.

 I sit in sulk and sorrow and anger

Yes, anger.

People hear

What God wishes them to hear.

They hear a voice.  It sounds like mine

At my best.

They repent.

Yes, I admit it:

They repent.

I know the right response is

Gratefulness,

Awe at the beauty of it all.

I know the right thing to see

Is the graced beauty

Of it all.

Today Jonah is my kin,

Brother under the skin.

I watch the plant shrivel

As the worm chews.

There is no whale waiting

To swim me home.

No ship.