Wednesday, July 9, 2014

A Foreigner in a Foreign Land

Exodus 2:22New International Version (NIV)

22 Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

No. This is not a baby announcement. I know some of you have placed bets, but you're going to lose your money. And no, my son will never ever be named Gershom. 
But yes. This story has come to mind a few times in the last month. 
Hey! It's been a month since I married my husband (still feels funny saying that). 
The phrase "foreigner in a foreign land" is one I've known for a long time but I've never really applied it to myself before we got here. 
And then I had to Google it to figure out if it was even really in the Bible, who said it, and why. 
Turns out it was Moses, when he was naming his first kid, while he was living in Midian. Why was he in Midian? He killed an Egyptian in Egypt (bad place to kill an Egyptian) so he ran away and found himself in Midian where he settled down with a new family and started a new life and by the way-- he also got married.
Yes, I got married. Yes, I moved away from my family. No, I didn't kill anyone. 
Seriously though: I have no idea what Moses was thinking. But I understand what he was saying.
Previous to the murder and being run out of town, Moses was a pretty cool dude. He was wealthy, handsome, young and lived in the palace. Not a bad gig. Jump ahead 5 verses and he kills someone, Pharaoh is trying to kill him, he's stuck hiding in the desert, living with his in-laws and watching sheep for a living.
This I do understand. 
Previous to marrying and moving, I had a lot on my plate. I had a job that was challenging and rewarding, I had a community of people that I loved and who loved me, my mom was 10 minutes away, I knew how to get to Target, I knew which streets NOT to drive down, restaurants served horseshoes, and I was firmly rooted in all of those things. 
I found my identity in my ability to lead Children's Church, in knowing the six different ways to get to Edinburg, in being able to go home when I needed laundry done, in having a dog and yard and a favorite Mexican restaurant. 
I had people I could go to if I needed advice on money or school or life or how to jump my car battery for the eighth time. I could ask a sister or a roommate if my outfit looked okay (Garrett constantly pleads the 5th). I had a dentist and a mechanic. I had a favorite coffee shop and a favorite ice cream place. I knew who I was. I was Emily Collins. 
But then I found myself, a foreigner in a foreign land with a man who uses my toothbrush.
 Yesterday they called for Emily LeVault at the BMV -- and they meant me. I get lost on the way to the church, it took me half an hour to find a car wash, my estimated graduation date is 2031, I'm in search of ANY job, I basically sit around and watch a lot of Netflix... I don't even have a library card.
Here's the thing: I am trying to be funny. Hopefully something in there made you laugh because I complain about the most ridiculous things. But in all seriousness, this is the hardest thing that I have ever done. 
Moses' story does actually get better. When he moved away and got married and started over, that's when God started talking. That's where he encountered the burning bush and his calling to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. 
This little phrase "foreigner in a foreign land" is only two chapters into the entire book of Exodus. Moses' story goes so far beyond his first few years as a prince in Egypt and then as a foreigner in Midian. This is just his beginning. 
So, obviously, I should probably start looking at things that way too. It's only been a few weeks since we got here. There is still plenty of time for things to get easier and better. I have to figure out who Emily LeVault is, what my new calling is supposed to be, how to get to the best Target in town (there are 3 of them, Kendahl), how to graduate before I'm 32, and where to find good coffee.
If you're reading this and you are super offended by my whining and my ungratefulness, well... please just be patient. I am usually much more fun. 
Just ask Springfield.
With Love,
- Emily LeVault