A few weeks ago, in writing to you about the High Holy Day services, I referenced stopping the telling the story of the fish-dwelling prophet, Jonah in order to read to two-year old Nora.

I thought, “Hey, I know what would make a good article! A fuller, playful retelling of the Book of Jonah.”

But, then I read what I wrote and chose not to send the whole thing.

I’ll explain in a moment.

First, I want share with you the start and end of what I wrote.

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God says, “Jonah, go to Sin City—Babylon, Nineveh. Tell them to mend their ways.” 

I borrowed a line straight from Jonah 4:11:

In Nineveh there are more than six-score thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand—and also many cattle.

I drafted, deleted, and re-drafted the whole book in my inimitable style. 

I closed it like this—Jonah tells the 120,000 (and many cattle), “Mend your ways.”

And they do—making Jonah  the most successful prophet in the Bible!

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However, while editing the middle, I realized no matter how well I wrote it, you probably wouldn’t really care so much about my take on the one of the most famous stories to come out of the Neo-Assyrian empire (912–612 BCE).

Why?

Because I’ve come to learn that you, beloved reader, don’t read my newsletter for Bible lessons.

And, moreover, AI can serve up something pretty amazing if you ask it.

I just entered this prompt into chat_gpt and it came out with something amazing.

“Tell the story of Jonah in a super short, modern, spiritual-but-not-religious style, like something you’d post on Instagram or a social media feed. Keep it punchy, reflective, and full of life lessons, but only a few lines long.”

You, dear reader,  want something more heartfelt than what A.I. can serve up.

So here comes a good ponderful question—

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If you were Jonah what message do you feel called to give? That is, if you had a chance to say any one thing to all the people, what would you say?

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I know my answer.

I’d tell Nineveh, Portland, Washington DC or anyone else: Love.

I’d say: 

Love, and love, and love until you’ve run out of people to love—and then start learning to love even those you once called adversaries. 

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The loving our enemies part.

I’ve given this some thought and I think I know why we aren’t doing it so well.

With such a daunting task, oughtn’t there be instructions?

Has no one has taken the time to break down the steps required to loving your enemies?

So, I wrote some.

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How to Love Your Enemies

(A first draft.)

The first three steps.

1. Start with just not hating them so much. Don’t stoke the flames or pour kerosene on it.
2. Work on opening up some mental space to not be annoyed by them and everything they do
3. Slowly, from there, make your way to finding something about them I like.