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Are you stuck in the desert?


Spelling is not my strong suit.  In college I had to convince my Russian Language professor that yes, I studied for my weekly vocabulary quiz.  It wasn’t that I didn’t try to learn the words.  I can’t spell in four languages! Two sets of words I can spell, in English, are “desert/dessert” and “angel/angle.” I learned them with the help of very good teachers in elementary school.  An “angel” is Ever Lasting versus an “angle” that is LEft or right.  A “dessert” is something of which you would like SecondS; a “desert” you only want one.  That teaching tool only works so far.  I have found myself in more than one desert; so whether I like it or not, deserts seems to come in seconds (and thirds). Luckily, however, there are angels—messengers of God.
God sent a tree in the desert to shelter Jonah.
 From "An Invitation to the Desert."

 Some of the families at Second Church are wandering in the desert with a family spiritual practice called, “An Invitation to the Desert – Under God’s Good Care.”  This week families are reading about Jonah.  Yes, he was in a large fish at one point; that must have been dark and wet and smelly!  Jonah also ended up in a desert. It was hot, and dry, and very lonely.  Jonah was sent to Nineveh to warn the people to change their ways!  They were REALLY not behaving nicely.  Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh.  That’s how he ended up in a fish! 

When Jonah did go to Nineveh and warn the people of what would happen to them if they don’t change, well the people listened and started to follow God’s ways.  You would think that Jonah would be happy wouldn’t you?  Well, he wasn’t. He became VERY angry.  He couldn’t handle the mercy of God for the people of Nineveh. Jonah went into the desert and pouted.   How does it feel to be angry?

Sometimes “desert” feelings inside can make us feel alone. A desert feeling can make us feel scared.  I think Jonah was in two deserts – one in the fish and the other in the sand. When we are mad or angry it can be very hard to change direction and behave the way God wants us to.  If we can’t change—it can be hard to see others change.  The good news is that we can all be messengers.  We can remind people who they are. We can call people back to a right relationship.  Even when we are in a desert mind; we are in the presence of God.  This week the children and their families will read:

Sometimes the desert is deep inside of us;
                So deep that no one else can see.
But God knows my heart, God will help me when I’m angry;
                God will always take care of me.  

Friends, are you in the desert?  Are you alone?  Are you sad? Are you worried?  Grief, regrets, isolation can all bring desert feelings. Deserts can be dark.  Deserts can be cold.  Deserts can be scary, but God is there, even there, in the desert.

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