Making Advent Personal through Jonah

For those who don’t know already, our church has just started a series on the Book of Jonah, which, for the record, is one of my favorite books of the Bible.  Most people to some extent are familiar with the account, but what draws me into this book is how similar we are to Jonah in both mind and spirit.  Much like us, he’s a man who is driven to find a way to escape the responsibilities of God, while still enjoying his blessings.  And as bad as it sounds, since starting my new job, that tends to be the way I feel.

Despite the quality preaching and instruction at Good Shepherd to do otherwise, I just haven’t been reading my Bible, I haven’t been praying, and I have just found myself too busy to consider God’s thoughts.  This is a dangerous line to be walking, and I don’t want to be on it anymore.

This lack of caring about anything outside teaching also plays a part in the absence of blogging.  Sharing these writings is one of my best ways to think through, process and enjoy the events in my life.  When I fail to be reflective, I become stagnant, unloving and joyless.

Learning from Jonah’s mistakes, I know that if I continue running away from God and forcing Him out of life, God will come back for me and use any means necessary.  To some extent, I can chose how difficult I want to make that process.  But I know enough about the Book of Jonah to know that it is better to be obedient than to flee and hide.  So during Advent, it is my prayer that I let God destroy the barriers I have put up around mind and my heart.  Hopefully, by the time Christmas Day is upon us I will be able to celebrate not the only the Light of the World but also the Light of my Life.