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Here is a letter I wrote to Jonah for his baptism yesterday.

Dear Jonah,

You were 3 days old before you had a name. Your Dad and I went back and forth on what to call you and eventually I won out, cause really anything is better than Nevar. But some people didn’t think it was much better for us to name you after a relatively lousy guy in the Bible. But you’re not named because of who Jonah was in the story. You’re named because of who God was in the story.

When I think about the absurdity in the story of Jonah it reminds me that God has a sense of humor. I doubt Jonah thought so at the time, but that is the beauty of God’s sense of humor. He sees the bigger picture. Our stubbornness is no match for His. Our recklessness is no match for His. Our adamancy is no match for His. But still Jonah ran… and so did God… after Jonah.

Finally from the belly of a big fish Jonah said to God, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” It took living in fish guts for 3 days for Jonah to recognize the incomparable value of God’s grace. But in the end he did recognize it.

We’ve chosen a verse for you that is our hope for your heart. It comes from John 20:29. “Because you have seen me, you have believed, but blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

When you were born, you were blue and limp and not really interested in breathing. As I sat there watching the nurses try to suction out your airway through your tiny, very pursed lips I said, “I think he’s a Jonah”. Fortunately God had a bigger plan for you. You were stubborn, but God is more stubborn. Jonah was stubborn, but God was immovable.

There is a saying, “Smart people learn from their mistakes, and smarter people learn from other people’s mistakes.” As your parents we will make mistakes and we know you will make mistakes. Our prayer is that the mistakes you make will be ones full of integrity; full of you. Don’t run from who God has made you. Don’t try to be someone or something other than his beloved. Don’t try to escape God’s affection. He will make your life very difficult until you rest in His love.

When doubts arise, and they will, when you are scared or reluctant find comfort in the truth that you are named for. Find comfort in the fact that God will go to absurd lengths to call you his own. Hopefully it won’t require anything having to do with a fish.

We love you.

Mama and Daddy