I have long felt a close kinship with Jonah. I am convinced
that had the good Lord called me as a prophet, my reaction would have been more
along the line of Jonah, rather than someone like Jeremiah who argued a bit and then
got in line with what was asked of him. I know I have not totally ignored the
little voice of God when he whispered in my ear, or, at times even shouted in
my ear. Sure, I will come back to the church. Right after hunting season is
over. Not the end of December but the middle of January when the waterfowl season
is over. This was my response even though I did not even hunt ducks or geese.
I eventually got there but not until I had more than a few wrecks.
Looking at how things turned out for Jonah as referenced
here I have to wonder how many times I followed the intended plan and, much to my
surprise, things worked out as planned but my reaction was not happiness and satisfaction
but disappointment, I did not get to see the big explosion I thought would be
way things would end.
Today life is good. We are settling into our new lives here
on the river and we see our kids and our granddaughter often. I am winding
down my work life with a pretty easy-going load as we slide toward retirement. Our
health is ok, not perfect, mind you, but perfect. As I look back over the most
recent years, though, I see I have been called to many different things and
was blessed with a good outcome from my efforts. Right now I am coasting a bit,
waiting for the next little nudges that have been the pattern for prior encounters
and I wonder what will come next. I know there is something percolating but
nothing has caught my attention.
I am telling myself to pay attention so that I do not hop on
a ship headed in the wrong direction and then ending up in the belly of the whale.
There is something great to come.
