In The Belly Of The Whale. Poem by Tor Magnor Solvang

Jonah heard God's voice so clear,
'Go to Nineveh, preach and fear! '
But Jonah turned and sailed away,
He didn't want to do what God did say.

A storm arose, the waves crashed high,
The sailors feared that they would die.
They cast their lots to find the blame,
And Jonah whispered out his shame.

'It's me, ' he said, 'Just throw me in,
And calm this storm, still all this din.'
Into the sea, they sadly cast,
The angry waves grew still at last.

A mighty fish, sent by the Lord,
Swallowed Jonah, every word.
Three days and nights, in darkness deep,
Jonah prayed, he couldn't sleep.

He thought of God, and all his sin,
He asked for grace, to live again.
He promised then, with all his might,
To do God's will, and set things right.

The great fish swam towards the shore,
And vomited Jonah, evermore,
Onto the sand, safe and sound,
On solid earth, on hallowed ground.

God spoke again, 'Go now and preach, '
And Jonah went, within his reach.
To Nineveh, he bravely went,
And God's forgiveness, freely sent.

For even when we run and hide,
God's mercy flows, a boundless tide.
A second chance, a brand new start,
With God's great love, within our heart.