Do Me a Favor.......

For the last few months I’ve been really learning the difference between the blessings of God and His favor. Both I think are mere benefits of following Christ and should not be the primary reason for being a Christian. But I gotta be honest…..when blessings and the favor of God happen it makes me feel like the trials and tribulations I go through are all worth it.

About a month ago, my pastor came up to me and told me that the favor of God was all over me. I knew this, but hearing it from him kinda solidified it. I’m blessed constantly. Just the fact that I have a good job, a nice home, the car I WANT, great family and friends, a wonderful church…….the list goes on, remind me of just how blessed I am. But His favor……oh, that’s another story. Can I just say that I have stumbled on some opportunities that are clearly the favor of God.

On Friday, another favor of God came to me. It was late afternoon, about 4pm-ish, and an email came in from Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ office, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that First Lady Michelle Obama would be speaking at HHS on Tuesday, which was yesterday.

Ok, let me remind you that Monday was a holiday for the Federal government. And usually when a holiday falls on a Monday, the Friday prior most folk are on leave. Fridays are already low-staffed because of the flexible schedule option we are allowed as Federal employees a lot of people either work half day or are already off on Fridays. But it was a holiday Friday, so the office was pretty empty.

Fridays are my best days to work because the office is empty and I can get a lot done---no interruptions. And usually, I work late on Fridays because I hate taking unfinished tasks into the next work week. So I say all of that to say that on last Friday at 4p-ish, I was sitting at my desk working when the email came in.

So I read the email and it stated that Michelle Obama would be speaking at HHS, however there would be limited space so if anyone wanted to attend the event we had to email by Sunday, our name and office. Ok, the email was so strategically planned. HHS has well over 60,000 employees around the country. But a great portion is in the metropolitan area. And so, for the Secretary’s office to send out the email on late Friday afternoon with a response by Sunday they realized that the responses would be narrowed.

When I saw the email I immediately put in my request and then I walked around to other colleagues who were in and asked if they’d read the email. There’s about 70 staff in my office and although a lot were out on Friday, the ones here did put in a request.

On my way to work on Tuesday, Monday was a holiday, I just felt in my Spirit that I had gotten selected to attend the event. I just felt it. It’s that same feeling I get when the Lord approves moves I need to make in my life. Just a peaceful confidence; a very sure feeling with no worry or concern behind it; like a green flashing late.

So I walked in my office and some were complaining that they weren’t here on Friday to put in the request and why it wasn’t on Thursday. Others who were here on Friday were complaining that they hadn’t gotten selected. I kept walking in confidence. I just waved and smiled. When I logged onto my computer the first thing I saw was the email. I opened it up and read the first line………. “I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected……” I was ecstatic! I was one of 250 that were selected to see Michelle Obama up-close.

Can I just say that I luuuuuv our First Lady? Thanks…….. I LUUUUUV MICHELLE OBAMA! She was everything I imagined and witnessed on television, but much more. She is so personable and I felt honored that she grabbed my hand, not an official shake but more of an “I’m in this with you” grab. She held my hand for extended seconds, long enough for me to have her perfumed lotion on my hand, and it was a very warm feeling from her. Let me just say that it was much deeper than a star struck moment for me.

A couple years ago, I was standing in the lobby of a building in downtown DC having a phone conversation with my mother. I randomly stepped in the building because as I was walking to the subway I couldn’t hear her speak. So I stepped in a building’s lobby to finish the conversation and out of nowhere Michael Jackson and one of his security people walked up on me. Michael was doing business in the building and as he was leaving he stopped to admire the mural that was on the wall behind the bench I was sitting on. When I lifted my head I nearly had a heart attack. It was so funny that even Michael Jackson cracked up laughing. Days later I stopped in to chat with the security guard and she told me that my facial expression was priceless. But I say this to say that that was a star-stricken moment for me. However, seeing Michael was no comparison to seeing Michelle.

This morning as I road into work on the train I got teary eyed. I was thinking about the grace and goodness of the Lord. Then I started thinking about all of the stories I heard and read about Michelle Obama saying how when Barack was a senator she was alone because most of his life was in DC, while she was left in Chicago to care for their children. I remember when they were on Oprah a few years ago and Michelle admitted that she felt like a single parent. And I remember Barack looking surprised and saying, “I never knew you felt that way.” Even though it was never mentioned, it was indeed implied that many times Michelle felt like giving up on her marriage.

In contrast, I thought about the many times I wanted to give up on my job. Many of my colleagues were advancing quickly and moving on to other agencies and programs, and at times I felt (feel) like I’m not growing at the level I need to be here. Many times I feel like calling in and not returning. Then there are times when I call in just because I’m sick of being sick and tired. But all in all, I continue on by the grace of God.

Over the last couple of weeks, my pastor has been talking about the process of gaining God’s reward. Of course, the story of the children of Israel suffering in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land, is always mentioned. And my favorite, the story of Ruth and how she had to go through what she went through to gain her reward. I think my pastor is right, in fact I know he is, when he says that the church gets the purpose of God confused with the position God places us in to fulfill the purpose.

To clarify, in many instances, Christians will not even realize the purpose in which we play in God’s plan. And in many instances, Christians may not even live to see the purpose we play in God’s plan. Like in the story of Ruth where the purpose of what she went through was so that she would be the ancestor of Jesus, and that Jesus would sacrifice His life for us. Of course Ruth realized there was a purpose, but she didn’t go around saying…. “what’s my purpose, I need to find my purpose.” No, Ruth focused on being obedient to the Lord’s will. In that, she positioned herself for God’s purpose. As a result, because of her obedience, God blessed her with a husband who took care of her earthly needs.

So the question for today’s Christians should actually be…. “Lord how and where do you want to position me?” In Ruth’s case, the Lord positioned her in the field. She worked day and night in the field. For me it may be spreading the Gospel in the Federal government. For others it may be doing missions work in the rough parts of Africa, and for others it may be evangelizing at a mega-church. Fulfilling the purposes of God is not always a glamorous assignment. And I think that’s why it’s hard for the church to grasp what it is the Lord wants them to do.

Understanding this, I started thinking about when Michelle grabbed my hand. I started thinking about what would have happened if either she or I would have given up on our jobs and marriage. What would have happened if we would have died in the process; in the wilderness because it didn’t feel good at the time. She of course wouldn’t have been the most famous and admired woman in the world.

But I thought about what would have happened if I would have died in the process? I wouldn’t have been imparted hope, to inspire others to hope, from the most famous and admired woman in the world. I wonder if Michelle realizes the position in which she's taken to fulfill God’s purpose. Probably. But probably not; she’s quite busy these days. God’s favor makes me laugh.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” --Luke 2:14