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At the school where I serve as chaplain, at the end of every school year there are dress up days during senior week. Each day has a theme. One of those themes is career day. Seniors are invited to come dressed in the attire of the jobs they hope to hold one day. It used to be that they took it somewhat seriously; students would come as teachers, doctors, athletes and so forth. These days it’s become a bit of a joke as the kids will come dressed as babysitters, zombies or characters in movies. But, there’s one profession I’ve never seen anyone dress up as in my 29 years; no one’s ever asked to borrow my robe and come to school as a chaplain. Not once. I’ve often wondered why. Salary may be an issue, but I think it’s more than that. I think it may have something to do with the nature of what it means to be a preacher. Most people don’t relish the idea of preaching sermons. Public speaking is right next to death on the list of things people fear most.
Certainly Jonah didn’t want to get involved in preaching. In the book of Jonah, when God called him to preach to the Ninevites, Jonah actually took off and headed out of town. After being swallowed by a big fish Jonah reevaluated, went to Nineveh and delivered his message. “So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh”, and as a result, people’s lives were changed. “And the people of Nineveh believed God.” Jonah 3:3-5
You might think I’m going to encourage us all to become preachers. I’m not. But I am going to encourage us to follow Jonah’s lead; to work through our fears and become more willing to deliver messages. Every message needs a messenger and we are all capable of that. Sometimes there are words that need to be spoken; messages that need to be delivered, and you may be just the right person for the job, even more than the preacher at your church.
I heard a student say recently that he joined the honor council because his advisor told him it was time for him to step up and be a leader. It was a message that student needed to hear, delivered by a messenger that student could hear. When I consider the story of Jonah, I’m left with this thought; sometimes we have to be willing to deliver a message despite our fears and apprehensions about doing so. Jonah had a role to play in the redemption of the Ninevites. Despite Jonah’s fear he ultimately went to Nineveh and spoke words that led to their transformation. If you are considering speaking words to a friend, a colleague, a student, a son or a daughter, I encourage you to consider that you may just be the right person for the job. In fact, you may be the only one that can do the job. May God bless you with the words and the courage to deliver the messages that only you can deliver.
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