Old Jonah
Old Jonah was a preacher-man,
Who preached like us – as best we can –
But balked one day when he got told,
To hit some town and be quite bold.So Jonah, just like us today,
Thought, “I’ll just head this other way;
Not East by the West”, then “Take this ship –
Out on this sea, – I’ll take a trip.”Of course we know what happened then:
A storm came up – big waves – and then
The crew found out ’bout Jonah’s plan,
And let him swim from ship to land.A whale took Jonah out for chow,
Thus Jonah was inside somehow,
With gastric juices swirling round;
“This is not good, where I am found.”But as a former music man
He sang a song (some drummers can);
His song of choice revealing is
Of heart and mind through gastric biz.He sang how 'lying vanities'
Seem real to us, till on our knees;
We fear what folks can do to us;
We dread to face continued fuss.The song goes on to say, it seems,
When we observe how silver gleams,
And follow it to better times,
Or heed some dread – we cross a line.’Tis then that we forsake God’s gift
To us – sometimes results are swift –
For mercy God desires to pour
Upon our lives, forevermore.So when we choose the road ahead,
Preferring life to being dead;
Preferring wealth to poverty;
Or fleeing stress – it’s then we see –Ourselves forsaking mercy ours –
This flight from God, His gift devours;
“We’ve only us to blame”, says song,
“So look around, ’fore you go wrong.“Just take the long-view in your pinch;
Don’t focus on each tiny inch;
Ask, ‘What’s the plan God has in hand?’
That’s how one gets from whale to land”.So Jonah said, “Okay, I give;
I’ll do Your will, just let me live.”
The whale coughed up reluctant food,
As Jonah then God understood.Were all his troubles done? Well, no;
But he set out and soon would know
The rest of story laid for him;
At least he’d finished up his swim.So what can we learn from this man?
I learned myself there is a plan;
And when things suck (like gastric juice),
The long-view gets us back en route.navigation