Double-mindedness

 Often in the morning I listen to Tim Keller podcasts. Recently they have been about Jonah, an odd story with a very human underpinning. 

He indirectly points out some things that deserve pondering. 

Psuche means soul; it's the word we get psychology from. Psychology as a science doesn't seem to be that concerned about the soul. (That second sentence is mine.)

Jonah goes through a harrowing experience, gets back on track, preaches the message, sees repentance of the Ninevites, whom he hates, and then pouts. It's worse than a pout; it's an existential despair. He ends up mourning the death of a plant and God says, "You're upset about a plant; shouldn't I be concerned about human beings?"

Obviously, that is a call to all of us to change the focus of our concern from material to human, something we have to be reminded of every day. Also, however, I see a common theme in Scripture. We see it with Job, Elijah, Jonah, David, Peter, and others. 

Wild vacillation. Once these personages seem to get something straightened out, they still struggle with it. They do not seem to ever get to a full deliverance of whatever their character or personality or spiritual issue is. 

One can find this discouraging, encouraging, or realistic.   More on that later.