by Kim Bobo
At the June 2009 IWJ Leadership Summit in New Orleans, I shared a few lessons from the book of Jonah. Be sure to read the short book of Jonah for background. Here are four of the key ones:
Lesson One: God has called us to a special ministry, a Ninevah ministry – a ministry of worker justice, economic justice. We have a Ninevah ministry before us – a ministry of saving the nation from its folly of wage theft, greed and consumerism. We’ve been called to a special ministry, one a bit outside the norm. Most prophets got to stay in Israel. They hung out together preaching on the corner or in the synagogue. Not Jonah. He was called to Ninevah. Clergy, lay leaders, union leaders and worker advocates engaged in workers justice are called to a special Ninevah, even if it feels a bit outside the norm at times.
Lesson Two: Though storms may rage around, you’re still supposed to go to Ninevah. You are still called to do this work, even in turbulent economic times. Many IWJ affiliates have had to cut salaries or benefits for staff. Some have laid off staff altogether. Foundations have cut back on grants. Individuals have had less money to give. Unions are hurt because their members are hurt. Worker leaders are threatened by ICE. It is a rough time to be doing this work, but we’re called to do it anyway. We’re still supposed to be fighting for workers rights. We’re still supposed to be prophetic voices in the midst of the economic crisis.
Lesson Three: The big fish can’t hold you. Sometimes you may feel like the big fish has swallowed you up. You may be fired for your courage. The organization may fall apart. The campaign may stagnate. The union’s reputation may falter. That big fish may appear to swallow you whole. But don’t give up. Pray like Jonah: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
You may be in the jaws of the fish for a fewminutes, or a few days, or even a few months, but the fish can’t hold you. It will spit you out – back on the shores, heading to Ninevah. The work is too important. You cannot be held down by the big fish, no matter what is going on.
And the vomit can be messy. Jonah was probably a mess when he came out of the fish. The text says, “seaweed wrapped around my head.” (I so love this image – I often feel like seaweed is wrapped around my head.) This work can be messy. Messy is part of the work.
When the big fish surrounds you, it may feel like the end. But it isn’t. God’s grace will be with you. God’s peace will be with you. You will be spit out, onto dry land – perhaps a bit wet, perhaps a bit messy, but still in one piece. Ready to head to Ninevah. Ready for the next battle.
Lesson Four: Ninevah can change. It’s been a long time since we’ve been on the winning side. Some of us have gotten used to losing. But we are in a new day. The nation’s economy is in turmoil. No one believes big business has our best interest at heart. No one thinks trickle-down can work. No one will be fooled into putting Social Security into the stock market. No one trusts the investment bankers. Oh yes, it is a new day. Change seldom comes just in steady increments. Big change often lurches forward.
As a nation, we are in a lurch moment. It is an economic moment like none other in my lifetime. We have the opportunity to change Ninevah, to save Ninevah – and frankly, just in the nick of time. We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act, sew a stitch in the crazy quilt of health care, pass comprehensive immigration reform and stop the pandemic of wage theft. Together, we can make Ninevah change.
source: http://www.iwj.org/template/edition.cfm?edition=14#a46
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