Fleeing God: Fear, Call, and the Book of Jonah

What does a big fish story like the Book of Jonah have to tell us about our relationship with God? Surprisingly, a great deal. In the story of the reluctant prophet we are invited to explore the times when we, like Jonah, have been less than enthusiastic about God's call. The humor of the original story serves, as it does in Jesus' parables, to draw in listeners and reveal our own flaws. Fleeing God is an exploration of the ways in which we encounter God. Not all encounters are times of great joy. If we are honest, we have also had those times when we would have preferred to head off in the opposite direction from God. Using Jonah's story and her own, Tara Soughers explores not only the cost of fleeing God, but also the surprising lessons that we learn on the way, even from the belly of a "big fish." Grace comes in unexpected ways.

About the Author :
Tara Soughers is rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Wrentham, MA. She is the author of Falling in Love With God.

Review :
Tara Soughers reflects upon the meaning of her call to serve in small and large ways. Through the wisdom of the Book of Jonah she invites the readers to reflect upon their own challenges in a personal exploration of the complexities of what it means to receive a call to serve. She also provides readers with a useful study guide to make this exploration their own. Whether it's a 'big fish' story or real life, Tara Soughers has a way of weaving insight, humor, faith and wisdom into the twists and turns of the spiritual journey. Her invitation to explore the Jonah within in response to God's relentless 'call' to transformation is both compelling and challenging. These reflections will be a support for anyone who has 'met' God and wanted to 'run the other way.' Engaging the struggle, she tells us, changes everything forever! Tara Soughers' personal experience of call, seen through the lens of the Jonah story, makes this classical Biblical story much more than what some assume is simply a 'fishy tall tale.' I found pieces of my call between the covers of this book, on a ship with Jonah, in the belly of the whale, and in Nineveh. Might you find yours and be reminded in a heartwarming way, that 'God does not give up on us-even when we deserve it. . . . God accepts even our reluctant obedience'? What a delight! Tara Soughers writes about something most of us would be reluctant to admit, much less talk about-how we run away from God. In her very accessible narrative, Tara meditates on Jonah, a figure at once mythic and also very real, and she reflects on her own life. But her real purpose is to invite us to take a look at our own lives, to see where God calls us, how sometimes we flee the other way, and how God continues to seek us and love us into the divine purpose. This is a book that will bring the reader insight, wisdom, joy, and hope with thanksgiving. Fleeing God by Tara Soughers is a delightful definition of life called to serve God. God has a plan for each of our lives. Unfortunately, many times we run from that plan. Not everyone is called to be priests, but we are all called to serve. Fleeing God is simply written making a difficult topic easy to understand. . . . I highly recommend this book to all Christians. The book is recommended for spiritual direction and self-improvement and will be enjoyed and give much food for thought.