December 20: The Great Fish

Jonah 1; 3:1-5, 10 Today’s symbol is the great fish. God sent the prophet Jonah to Nineveh, but Jonah tried to run away. God was with Jonah in the storm, and in the fish, and finally when Jonah went to Nineveh. Jonah could not run away from God. I wonder why Jonah immediately ran in the opposite direction when God asked him to go to Nineveh. I wonder what he hoped would happen? I wonder if I have ever wanted to run away from what I knew God wanted me to do? Has there been a time when it felt too hard to be kind? Or too scary to say, “I’m sorry?” What do I want to say to God about that time? I wonder why Jonah was so angry after the people of Nineveh listened to his words? I wonder what that anger felt like inside his body? I wonder why it was so hard for him to see God continue to protect Nineveh? I wonder if I can believe that God wants to be like a sheltering roof for all people? I wonder if there are people I might not want to share that roof with? What do I want to say to God about that? I wonder where God is when I can’t see his protecting love? Can I talk to God about that right now?