The Power of Choice

The book of Jonah is one of my favorites. Newly discovered at orientation I latched onto Jonah's story as a kindred spirit who has experienced the desire to run the other way from God's suggestions at times. Jonah also has a bit of a temper, especially in how he has the audacity to get angry with God when God is merciful in forgiving the people of Nineveh. Jonah goes and pouts, growing in agitation when his shade withers and dies. I feel like God was sort of smirking when he spoke to Jonah, explaining his depth of concern for every plant and animal. As a person quite concerned about the treatment of animals, my love for my Heavenly Father swells when I think of his concern for every living thing.

Liz used the first two chapters of Jonah as her text for today's sermon. She talked about how some of us might think Jonah weak for his choice to go West to Tarshish instead of East as God had asked. But when she put it in the context of us being asked by God to solve the problems in Iraq, we could all more easily identify with wanting to run in the other direction. She also talked about how we all have a choice, places in our lives where God is illuminating for us the course of action that would please him. We have a choice whether to follow that illumined path or to flee in the opposite direction.

March 7 is election day in Northern Ireland, a significant step in moving toward a power sharing, devolved government future. Our street is covered with posters of candidates, some in our area are even written in Irish.



Liz reiterated for people the importance of making their voice heard in their vote this Wednesday. Many people in Northern Ireland have grown discouraged, as politicians continue to argue back and forth with one another. I can see how it easy it would be to be frustrated with politicans who play games with one another, seeing how long they can hold out to make the best deal for their party, and often times losing sight of what might benefit the greater good. The same is true of politics in the United States, the more I think about it. Yet, I would never sacrifice my gift of having my voice heard through voting. You have a choice to vote, to invest in the future, or to sit idly by and be an observer of a future that happens to you instead of with you. I also pray that Wednesday is a day that passes peacefully, with people turning out to vote, showing their committment to the future of Northern Ireland.

The next two weeks are Fair Trade Fortnight at many businesses. Companies like Marks and Spencer are opening their doors to organizations like Tear Fund so Fair Trade products can be promoted. In the store last week I stood mesmerized in front of the eggs at Tesco. I could choose 6 eggs that were about $1.20 or I could choose free range eggs that cost about twice as much. I had flashbacks of seeing the truck full of chickens in tiny crates bumbling down Poinsett Highway and I chose the free range eggs. I buy fair trade coffee, even though it costs more, and I'm trying to use recyclable bags when I go to the store since I heard that Tesco (our main grocery chain) uses 4 billion plastic bags a year. I'm trying to make conscious choices that do my part to contribute to fair working conditions for the people whose hands grow and prepare the food I purchase. Some people might argue that just one person making that choice isn't going to affect change, but I remember God's compassion in the story of Jonah. I remember God reprimanding Jonah for not knowing that God would care for every living thing and I feel that in my heart, making a choice for fair conditions is making a choice to live a life striving to be worthy of the calling I've received.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/fairtrade/index.htm

So this week as you hear news about global warming and purchase your groceries, when you feel God illuminating areas of your life where he is calling you to respond, big or small, how will we respond? Will we make a choice that we know in our heart honors God and invests in bringing his Kingdom here on earth, or will we, like Jonah, run in the opposite direction. The other question posed to us at orientation was, "If Jonah had not eventually gone to Nineveh would God's purpose not have been accomplished?" So if we don't make the choices we feel God bends our hearts to make, will his will ultimately not be accomplished? I believe it will and I believe God invites us to be a part of things. It's what we do with that invitation that is the answer to the question, speaking through our lives.