The lot falls

After Jonah 1 

Lots are cast;

the lot falls

on him, guilt

designated and

justified.

The sea rages,

threatening all

because of his,

one man’s,

disobedience.

And he tells

them. He tells

them to quiet

the storm 

by tossing him

into the sea.

First refusing,

they ultimately

obey, throwing

him into the waves,

sacrifice as act

of obedience.

 

Photograph by Li Yang via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Invited into a Rich Community: An Interview with Matt Wheeler – Matt Connor at The Rabbit Room. 

 

“Ghost in This House” and “From a Sinner Who Didn’t Make It All the Way Through Baptist Summer Camp” – poems by C.B. Anderson at Society of Classical Poets. 

 

White – poem and artwork by Sonja Benskin Mesher. 

Rejecting the call

After Jonah 1 

It is clear, the call,

that is. The call is

clear, nothing opaque

or ambiguous or

confusing about it.

And it is simple:

go.

The destination is

mentioned in such

an offhand manner

that obedience is

assumed.

 

He pales and shakes.

He flees, far away

from where he’s

told to go. But is it

fear of where he’s

told to go or that

he knows it’s

a command of grace

and salvation. And

those people deserved

none of it. 

 

It’s like being sent 

to Beijing or Nigeria

or Pyongyang or

Moscow or Caracas.

Not because the people

don’t need it but

because they don’t

deserve it.

 

Photograph by Jakayla Toney via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

St. Clare: A Sonnet – Malcolm Guite.

 

Believers in an Unbelieving World: How the Early Church Engaged Society – Stephen Presley at Desiring God.

 

There’s No Point in Keeping Receipts Unless We’re Balancing Them (and We’re probably Not Balancing Them) – Samuel D. James.