Not long ago, I was asked, “What is your story. What brought you here?” It was an interesting question. When God first told me to pack up my things and move to another city in another state, many folks thought I was crazy. Why in the world would I leave my family and my church? It wasn’t like I was a twenty-something looking for adventure. I was established. I had a good job. I had been teaching for a number of years and had finally arrived in the position that I had designed beyond academics. I was the artistic director, and I’d finally gotten to that point where the work was fulfilling. Sisters, plain and simple, I was comfortable. I had settled in the routine and was quite content. And don’t get it twisted, I was ministering and teaching, and I was extremely active at my church. I wasn’t just sitting on my laurels; I was trying to represent my Father well on a daily basis. And right there in the middle of all of my comfort, God spoke and told me to move, to leave everything I’d ever known. It was my Abraham moment, you know, like in Genesis 12:1-3 when God spoke to Abram and said,
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
At the time, I didn’t think it was as profound as Abraham’s call. I was just trying to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. I told my family and my pastor that it was time to move, and I started packing. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time because I was instructed to move to a city I’d never even visited before. (Talk about a faith walk!)
The Manna Chef 