Growing up I enjoyed fishing.  I have lots of fond memories, many of them shared with my siblings, family, and friends.  I have fished oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.  One of my earliest memories is being on the Osage River with my dad, my Grandfather Roy, and my brother Jerry.  The only thing I remember us catching was a copperhead snake on a cane pole.  My Grandpa was trying to make sure it did not make it into the boat with us.  That is one of several moments of fishing that are vivid in my memory banks.

Another one that stands out was a day of deep-sea fishing off the coast of Homestead, FL.  We went about 30 miles out into the gulf stream to troll weed lines.  That day I hooked an 80-pound bull Mahi Mahi.  He was a beautiful fish that put up a great fight!  He was by far the biggest fish I have ever caught anywhere. 

I do not mind the work that it takes to go fishing.  I also don’t mind the idea of putting a worm, a grasshopper, or a small ballyhoo on a hook as bait.  What I do mind is the use of one of my own body parts as bait for fishing.  That is why I will never try noodling catfish.  I have no desire to let a big catfish swallow my hand because it thought it was food.  That kind of fishing isn’t for me.  I am into the idea of catching fish; not being caught by a fish.

I think I can speak confidently and say that Jonah would have felt the same way.  Even though he was tossed out of the boat to apparently appease his god and calm the life-threatening storm, I don’t think Jonah was ready to be ingested by a great fish.  But he was and he stayed in the belly of the great fish for three days and nights.  Then God caused the great fish to vomit Jonah out onto dry land.  Jonah tried to run from God’s calling and mission; he tried to escape God’s presence, but it was a futile effort.  Even in the belly of a great fish, God was there and God heard Jonah’s psalm of prayer. 

Some interpreters would have you believe that Jonah’s three days and nights in the belly of the great fish was his punishment for running away from God.  I wonder if it was more of a formational time for Jonah.  In his ordeal, Jonah was reminder that there is nowhere he can go and escape from God.  Maybe the words of Psalm 139 came to mind, and they reminded him that there is nowhere he can go and escape God’s presence.  The steadfast love of God and faithful presence was with Jonah, even amid this dark place.

Like Jonah, we may find ourselves in dark places.  We become consumed with the worries, stresses, and anxieties of our time.  It may be the darkness within our minds that overwhelms us or the darkness of doubt and despair.  We may feel like this darkness is hiding God’s presence from us or even hiding us from God’s presence.  But the Psalmist reminds us that there is not only no place we can go to hide from God, “the darkness is as light” to God.  Paul in the last verses of chapter 8 of his letter to the Romans tells the reader that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.  Nothing.  Not on the earth, above the earth, below the earth or beyond can separate us from the love of God meaning wherever you find yourself, God is there as well and God brings hope.

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Consider what it means to live constantly in God’s presence.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.

Questions to Consider this week:

• Monday:  Do you believe God is actively present in your life?  Why or why not?
• Tuesday:  What emotion(s) does this spark within you?
• Wednesday:  When do you feel most alone, depressed, or stressed?
• Thursday:  What is the root cause of these feelings?
• Friday:  When do feel most connected, hopeful, and alive? 
• Saturday:  What is the root cause of these feelings?

Actions for the Week:

• Head:  Define the depth of your belief that God is constantly present.
• Heart:  Determine the state of your soul and the level of turmoil or quiet that you abide in.
• Hand:  Seek ways to stay rooted in God’s abiding presence.