Manna

Interesting paradigm I'm finding myself in these days. I've never read the Bible cover to cover before. I've studied different parts of it, but have never just read from start to finish. So I decided to start. I'm getting to the part where Moses is called to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. I haven't reached the part where Moses returns to Egypt yet, but am familiar with how it plays out. Moses eventually makes it out with the children of Israel, but they literally wander in the wilderness for 40 years ... 40 years! During their time in the desert, they are fed manna from heaven. They are given just what they need. Rather, they are told to take just what they need. When they take more, thinking they can save it, it spoils and is not edible.

I found myself thinking about this today as I was driving home from an interview. I've been in Denver almost 2 months now, and employment still eludes me. I search every day. I've signed up with 2 temp agencies and have met with a recruiter. I joined another company that gave me a job line to call where I can get two leads a day. I've poured over the classifieds in the newspaper and spent innumerable hours searching craigslist.com, monster.com, beyond.com and many more. I don't know what else I can do. I find myself thinking each morning, "Just keep doing the leg work, and something will work out." I'm happy to be able to live with family right now, because there's no way I'd be able to make rent and expense payments. I have what I need in terms of necessities at my fingertips thanks to a very generous aunt and uncle. I even have the use of a car until I'm able to get one of my own. So far I've been able to afford gas to go to and from interviews. (Side note story on this: I was down to a quarter tank of gas last week, and ended up being chosen for a market research focus group. $40 for an hour and a half of my time and opinions. Score! Almost able to fill the tank. Keeps me going to interviews.) Thanks to the generosity of a loving sister, I am able to meet other financial obligations in this "limbo" time. I was even able to ride with my mom and aunt to St. Louis to visit my brother's family, including a new 2 week old nephew. This 10 day, free vacation would not have been possible had I been working already. I am blessed indeed.

Anyway, today as I was returning from a second interview at Johnson & Wales University, I thought about Moses and the manna. The Lord takes care of His people. Sometimes our faith is tested and we are asked to live on just enough. Other times we are blessed with abundance and are asked to give what we can. Right now, I'm living on manna. I hope to get a job soon, and be able to get on my feet again, but right now, somehow the manna is enough.