Belly of the Whale

I read this paragraph in Hope Against Darkness by Richard Rohr and resonated with his articulation of change, pain, and letting go.  It gave me hope, another piece of bread for the journey.  There is life giving transformation that can come from unwanted change and pain in our lives.  I hope you are encouraged, all those facing a relationship or situation that hasn't happened the way you wanted it to.

from chapter four

The word change normally refers to new beginnings.  But transformation, the mystery we're examining, more often happens not when something new begins but when something old falls apart.  The pain of something old falling apart--chaos--invites the soul to listen at a deeper level.  It invites, and sometimes forces the soul to go to a new place because the old place is falling apart.  Most of us would never go to new places in any other way.  The mystics use many words to describe this chaos:  fire, darkness, death, emptiness, abandonment, trial, the Evil One.  Whatever it is, it does not feel good and it does not feel like God.  You will do anything to keep the old thing from falling apart.  This is when you need patience and guidance, and the freedom to let go instead of tightening your controls and certitudes.   

A change can force a transformation.  Spiritual transformation always includes a usually disconcerting reorientation.  It can either help people to find a new meaning, or it can force people to close down and turn slowly bitter.  The difference is determined precisely by the quality of our inner life, our spirituality.  Change just happens, but transformation is always a process of letting go, living in the confusing dark space for awhile, and eventually being spit up on a new and unexpected shore.  You can see why Jonah in the belly of the whale is such an important symbol for many Jews and Christians.  God lets Jonah run in the wrong direction, but finds a long, suffering, circuitous path to get him back where he needs to be--and in spite of himself!  That is patient inner transformation.  

I never want to go through what Jonah did.  But it makes sense as a symbol.  Most of us have been there and can testify that once you're spit up, you're grateful to have arrived.  We will all get there.