sign of jonah

If you read the post before this you will see that I thought my friend Vanessa would give birth to her son Jonah on my birthday which isn't until the 13th of October. God had other plans. Jonah arrived last night at 220. Safely, healthy. Vanessa and Brian are holding their baby in their arms and fully in their hearts. As someone looking in from the outside, I think the early arrival of Jonah is merciful and gracious toward Brian and Vanessa. They were both afraid. Afraid that the same thing would happen again that happened last time. Afraid that this baby they were longing for would be taken from them at the last second. So God gave him to them a little earlier than anticipated.

The story of Jonah in the bible becomes a metaphor for Jesus hundreds of years later. Jesus himself refers to the sign of Jonah. That he will be gone for three days and then rise again. Jonah was in the great fish for three days; Jesus was in the tomb. Both were given new life and as a result many others were given new life. In Jonah's case it was the people of Nineveh; with Jesus it IS the whole world.

With new baby Jonah I think God is speaking to us. He is reminding us that there is new life all around. He is telling us that stories do continue past tragedy. Those stories can be full of joy and life to the full. May we all be able to see God speaking to us through other's lives. May other people be able to see God through us. We are all stories of life and, hopefully, life to the full.