Wait

When I was in the fifth grade, I got my first man teacher. His wife was also a fifth grade teacher and they lived on a small farm. It was in the spring of that year that the teacher brought in an incubator and some chicken eggs. 

Every day we watched those eggs and waited patiently.

After about 3 weeks they began to crack. And then small holes appeared. And one by one little peeps began to appear.

But a few of the eggs never cracked. And after a couple more days the eggs disappeared. There was a solemn sadness in many of us. 

We learned a couple of lessons during that time:

*Sometimes it's exciting to wait for something to happen.

*It's amazing to watch a new beginning.

*Occasionally the outcome isn't what you want.

*Sad disappointment can be overcome.

Last Sunday when we came home from church I had a message on the answering machine. It was from the Maryland State Police. I was being asked to come for a job interview....for a job that I had applied for last April. I remember after submitting that application, waiting hopefully to hear from someone. But much time went by and I had forgotten all about that job. 

When I woke up Monday morning I called the number and set up an interview for Thursday.

The interview would take place over an hours drive away. So Thursday I woke up at my normal time. My husband was going along for the ride. I was pretty anxious. I wanted to check the confirmation email one last time to be sure I was bringing everything that I needed. 

As I was scrolling through the hundreds of emails and spam I noticed an email I hadn't paid attention to before. It was an email about another job working for the State of Maryland. Oh no, why hadn't I seen it? It was from a month ago. It, too, was inviting me to an interview. Oh, I was just sick about missing it. But that job would involve a daily drive of about an hour and a half. 

I quickly replied to the email with an apology for missing the interview and a plea to be remembered for the next opportunity.

Ugh! I just can't believe I blew that chance.

I put aside those feelings and off we went to this interview. It was a long drive. Tension built. Bill and I talked a lot about, what if.

The interview went well. I liked the sound of the job. I feel pretty confident that I am qualified. But there is a process, background checks, reference checks, and interviews of other people. So I now will wait, excitedly, anxiously.

But wait... there's more...

Remember the email that I had overlooked? About the other interview? When I got home I CAREFULLY checked my email. I had gotten a response from the woman that had sent the email!!! It was a one sentence inquiry. A question actually, "Would you be interested in this position in Cumberland?"

What?!? I could not believe it. I just couldn't believe it. 

In less than a week, I am getting the opportunity for not one, but two, very good State jobs, neither of which I had applied for recently. It was like out of the blue.

Of course I'm interested in working in Cumberland. That's where I work now. She then asked me to send her my resume and I did.

So I now wait, excitedly, anxiously to hear about one or the other of two jobs. I remember a lesson I learned in the fifth grade:

*Sometimes it's exciting to wait for something to happen.

*It's amazing to watch a new beginning.

*Occasionally the outcome isn't what you want.

*Sad disappointment can be overcome.

It all brings to mind one of Joseph's experience's in the Old Testament. 

Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous older brothers. Once in Egypt he overcame his trials and excelled to the point that he became a trusted, loyal servant of the hierarchy. 

He resisted the seduction of Potiphar's wife and then she lied about him trying to rape her and he was put into prison. He was there a very long time. 

There were two others there with him. They both had dreams that God allowed Joseph to interpret. Within 3 days the cupbearer was released from prison and re-instated to his job as cupbearer to the King. But he forgot to mention Joseph.

Here are the scriptures.

“Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon."

Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh's hand;

Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”

Genesis 40:14-15, 20-21, 23 NASB

Joseph's life was chock full of ups and downs. And full of waiting, excitedly and anxiously for God to work in his life. Very often I think of Joseph and what his human emotions went through time and time again. 

I can't imagine his family hating him so much that they plot to kill him,  but then sell him knowing they will never see him again and telling his  father that he  were dead. It must have been a very sad realization for young Joseph. But he faced adversity bravely. And he worked hard and grew using the adversity as stepping stones.

And then to be lied about and put into prison. I wonder how he spent those long days. I wonder what he thought about, what his prayers were, his reflections on his life.

And then to correctly interpret those dreams and have his hopes soar that maybe now he will get out of the cell only to come to understand that he was forgotten. 

 Yet we are given the vantage point of seeing how all along God's hand was with Joseph, building and equipping him for each new chapter of his life.

He will do the same for you and I. When we feel abandoned, when we feel forgotten, when we feel slandered, when we are working extremely hard for people that "are not our people." God is there. God is with us. He is building us and equipping us for the tapestry that will be our lives and our legacy. 

You have a purpose. God has a plan. Hold on, Wait for it. Wait excitedly and anxiously, no matter what.