A Job in the Desert

I wonder sometimes what the Israelites must have felt like as they were treking through the wilderness in search of the promised land. Even though they were being fed water and Manna from above, the uncertainty of each step they took forward must have played on their fears and doubts. Even though they left slavery– at least they knew what to expect. Words like “remember the way it used to be” always bring people some warped sense of comfort, even when they have Abraham telling them about the freedom they could be living in. The very definition of fear is —the unknown.

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” (Exodus 15:22-23)

In the last several weeks I have run into so many random people who were laid off and now have simply burned out from their job search. Some explaining “unemployment pays me more than some job I don’t want to do—anyhow!” And when I tell them to have faith, they leave me with a blank look of incredulity.

So I thought as a chaplain and social worker I might weigh into the job search issue in society today. First, I think we as a society are job searching all wrong! So many people are searching and grabbing at any job that comes their way, like a shark out of water reaching for any puddle available. No matter how much the puddle looks like home, the water will never be salty enough or big enough to sustain the needs of the shark!

There are these societal or family lies that many of us have ingrained inside us. The lies are that work comes hard and that living out your passion needs to be done after your work is finished.

I believe many people who are now depressed, broken and out of work are really suffering from a much bigger issue than job loss. I think they are suffering from not following in faith the hopes and dreams God has placed before them. For example, instead of being artists and musicians, they chose the safety of big business, stock markets and what looked like solid firms. And just like the Temple that Jesus said he would destroy and rebuild in three days—-what looked to be solid fell away.

I am in no way saying that there are not times in all of our lives when we have to take a job or make a move just for the sake of putting food on our family’s tables. What I am saying is that settling into any job which is outside of our gifts, calling and dreams is a denial of what we were created for. A muted singer cannot worship, a banker who should have been an artist could not paint the Sistine Chapel.

I would like to suggest a new way of job searching– job searching which begins in the clouds. The next time you sit down to surf the web for jobs, stop and consider meditation first. Begin with a prayer of thanks- giving for all you are and all you have. Then close your eyes and remember, like a child, a sunny day lying on your back under a blue sky. Do you remember as a child lying back and seeing objects in the clouds? Do you remember in those moments all the hopes and dreams you had? Do you remember what you knew you were going to be when you grew up? Did you want to be a doctor or a firefighter? Maybe you were going to be a diver or veterinarian.

Now, as you think of those dreams, I want to consider the reason you wanted do/ be or have those jobs. Did you want to be a veterinarian because you love animals? Did you want to be a firefighter because deep down you wanted to help people? Why did you want to be what you wanted to be? What God-given gifts did you want to share and explore?

With these meditations in mind, job search in your –hearts desire—in your calling instead of in the panic of a quick fix. No, if you did not go to law school you cannot look at jobs as a judge or lawyer! But you could search for jobs in law offices, you could put yourself in areas where your inner child and your God-given dreams could get some healing light.

The lie is that God has some other desire for you than what you deeply desire for yourself. I would like to pose that God places his Holy Spirit in our deepest dreams and gifts. I would pose to you that God is for you, God is not trying to trick you or punish you for your dreams. The difference between a dream and a calling is God’s hand in the choices.

This week, as you are wandering like the Israelites, in whatever desert you find yourself wandering in while you are in search of your promised land, consider the manna you have, the gifts you were given, and the God who has brought you this far.

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.1cor 2:12