Emphasis Preaching Journal

The book of Jonah tells a story of a man's journey: first, to avoid responsibility and then, to reexamine his own prejudices when his efforts bear fruit and others take new responsibility for their own lives. Betty was an elderly woman, long retired and widowed, who loved to talk on the telephone. If she couldn't physically be in the center of things, the telephone was almost as satisfying as being there personally. Whenever there was anything tragic or scandalous happening in her community, she was among the first to know about it.