As many people who would be reading this know, though I know some don't, about six years ago, I had my name legally changed to Jonah from Michael. Again, many of you have heard why, but the really really short version of why is that it was a very important symbolic gesture on my part to show my commitment to follow the call that God had on my life to become a priest. Much like the biblical Jonah, I had been running from that call for a very long time. I changed my name to reflect my "turning to Ninevah" as it were and starting down the road to ordination.
The biblical story of Jonah is unique from most of the stories in the bible and really from most traditional types of storytelling that we think of, in that it doesn't have an ending that resolves, necessarily. In a nutshell, the first three chapters of Jonah describe God calling him to preach to Ninevah, he runs away from that call, get swallowed and then spit up by a great sea creature and then does what God had asked him to do. That might have been a good place to end it. Happy ending. But then we have Chapter 4:
Jonah is upset that God didn't destroy Ninevah. So he pouts. God tries to show him some grace and Jonah just wants to die. I wonder whatever happened to him sometimes.
Anyway, I put this all out there for one reason. I changed my name to Jonah as a symbol of my commitment (and promise) to do what I felt God was calling me to do. On November 15th, the bishop is going to lay hands on me and ordain me into the Diaconate. When that happens, I will have fulfilled that promise to God and a new journey will begin. At that point, the symbolism of the name Jonah for me is over. I will then be Deacon Porter, and God willing, a year later when I am ordained as a priest I will be Father Michael.
I imagine the change is going to be hardest for those here in Denison who have never known me as anything but Jonah and won't know me as a deacon. But thats OK, I've been called a lot of things in my life. The transition might be a little easier for my Facebook friends, as I already have a new page ready to roll out as soon as I'm ordained.
As for the ordination, its on November 15th at Church of the Resurrection in Sherman, Tx at 6pm. Everyone is invited!
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