Wow.
Another piece of evidence boosting my belief that what you put out there comes back to you.
So.
Many, many moons ago, I got a sweet job offer.
It was 1999. I'd been working in television for a couple years. I took a vacation to visit my brother, who was then living in a cute house in Spanish Fork, Utah. I decided to stop by my tv station's affiliate in Salt Lake City. Honestly, I wanted to get the feel of how things worked in a bigger market -- and I kinda wanted to see if I could get some ideas on how to make my news show in Roanoke, Virginia a little better. I was under contract with my station and had no intention of leaving.
But...
The Salt Lake station seemed quickly impressed with me. A good local tv news producer is hard to find. Upon meeting me they requested to see a copy of my work. So I sent them a tape, hoping that a really great critique would come back and maybe some interest in some future work there.
To my surprise, they offered me the sweetest deal: they wanted to hire me, buy out my contract, double my salary (not too difficult when you're making close to nothing), and they wanted to pay for moving me out there. It was pretty much an offer I couldn't refuse.
So I put in my notice and started packing.
My roommate at the time, Jennie, had also considered moving to Salt Lake. So I offered her to come along and bring all her stuff, seeing as my station was paying for the move anyway. She was so grateful. But I just figured, at some point I'd have the favor returned somehow.
And OH HOW IT IS HAPPENING!!!!!!!!
Well... as you might know, I've been trying to figure out how to get my stuff moved here from my house in Portland -- just a couple chairs and a few stacks of boxes. I had tentatively lined up some stuff with people I'd found online, but those fell through. So I found another guy who is making the trek to Long Island. He said he could haul my stuff in a minivan for several hundred dollars. Not bad!!!
Quite literally -- as I was in discussion with this guy, I received a phone call from a friend of mine.
Beth worked with me at my station in Portland. And she just got a really great job offer here in the city. And guess what? Her new company is moving her out here... and she just happened to think of me, hearing that I might need some stuff brought out here!!!
WOW!
What a testimony-building experience!!!!
Goodness comes my way so easily!
And I find it funny. I'd been working out some expected expenses and income... balancing things out in my head in a way that made the math all come together. But some things are costing more than I thought, some things less, and money is coming in different chunks than I'd expected. But the math is STILL WORKING OUT!
It's amazing what happens when you have faith, isn't it?
Money has been a particularly interesting blessing in my life.
A few years ago I'd had a huge, unexpected bill come my way. I think it was because of some crazy plumbing fiasco at my other house.
Anyway, I remember sitting in my room... bills sprawled all over the bed... and trying to work out my finances.
"Where am I gonna find this money?", I thought.
And then, the panic erased... in a calm, gentle moment, I thought, "Did I pay my property tax on that house TWICE this year on accident?"
And the answer, my dear friends, is YES!
I quickly called the county, and I realized it would pay for most of my big bill. But I was still a few hundred dollars short.
And wouldn't you know it? In the next three days, I received two unexpected checks -- and combined with the county's reimbursement, it all added up to EXACTLY the amount I'd needed.
TO. THE. PENNY.
I just want to testify of miracles.
Of karma.
And of tithing.
I'm so grateful for it and for the daily remarkable reminders of goodness and blessings that come my way and your way. It's all so readily available to all of us.
Again -- if you put love and goodness out there, it comes back! It's no trick!
It's just God, and it just IS.