Jonah

The sonorous voice of God woke Jonah from his siesta one fine day, Saying, "Arise! Get ye to Nineveh and I'll brook no delay! I've volunteered you to go there and preach in that wicked town, The people are very unruly - they need a good dressing down!" "No way!", said Jonah, astraddle his ass to Joppa, fleeing from the Lord! "If I can find a ship sailing for Tarshish, I'll try to get aboard!" He paid his fare, went below and promptly went to sleep, Just as the Lord caused a great tempest to come upon the deep! The ship was in great peril - the captain shook Jonah awake. "Hey, dude, call upon your God - see if He will calm this lake!" Lots were cast to sort out their plight - Jonah drew the short straw. The crew heaved him overboard and he landed in a whale's maw! For three days and three nights he cruised about in this condition, Praying, "Lord, I'll do anything! Deliver me from this perdition!" The Lord heard him and brought his misery to a pleasant end, Commanding the whale to regurgitate and deposit him on dry land! Now this "whale" of an experience converted old Jonah, And he vowed to the Lord he'd assume a new persona. He scampered to Nineveh to offer a choice vis-a-vis heaven or hell! The Lord blessed him, saying, "My boy, you did extremely well!" Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)