Moldy Manna Hoarder
I would say that I’m not much of a pack rat. I can’t be because I don’t have that much stuff to be a pack rat about. How much can you really keep in a one-bedroom apartment anyway?
But, I am a manna hoarder.
Manna, that great gift from God, Israel’s daily provision. Just enough for one day. If you store it, then it rots. You just can’t eat yesterday’s manna today.
I would say that I’m not much of a pack rat. I can’t be because I don’t have that much stuff to be a pack rat about. How much can you really keep in a one-bedroom apartment anyway?
But, I am a manna hoarder.
Manna, that great gift from God, Israel’s daily provision. Just enough for one day. If you store it, then it rots. You just can’t eat yesterday’s manna today.
My manna hoarding confession comes via a need to pack up and move. I don’t have a ton of stuff, and most of it was given to me (bonus!). But the fact that it was given to me makes me reticent to release it into the wild when I am no longer using it.
Take for instance (or don’t take it because I wouldn’t give it to you anyway), the clothes that I accumulated for seminary. Upon entering those hallowed halls, I had very little in the way of “professional casual” attire. By the end of five years (yes, count ‘em, five), I had gathered quite a bit through friends, family, and other free sources. It took so long and I’m not even sure where they all came from, like they just dropped from the sky (hello, manna clothes). So, when I looked at that closet to pack it up, the desire to keep them was strong. What if I needed them again? I’d have to spend another five years to get all this back.
The thing is, it’s been three years since I wore most of them. Three years of hanging in the closet with no place to go. That’s when I realized it. I’m a manna hoarder. Yesterday’s manna was rotting in my closet today.
So, I loaded it up (well, most if it, I kept a few things), took the "funky" stuff to a vintage shop, and came home with $40 cash. The rest I donated so that the freeness goes on. Moldy manna unloaded, closet emptier, bank account larger, less things to pack, and someone else can enjoy the stuff today. Blessings all around.
I confess I am a manna hoarder, but a recovering one, I promise.
Jamie Lath
Jamie Lath is a middle child that has no baby picture without her older sister in it. Even with only two siblings, she grew up with family everywhere because all her aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and even second-cousins lived in her hometown. With forty people at her birthday parties (all relatives) and her sister in every picture, she knows a little about community, and it's everlastingness. This has brought most of her ministry focus into meeting people where they're at, listening closely (especially to those who feel voiceless and like no one is listening), and helping them find God's voice in the mix. Jamie graduated with a BA in Communication Studies from the University of North Texas. Following a year of teaching English in China, she returned to the states to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. She received a Th.M. with a focus on Media Arts. Her background in the arts (ballet, writing, and acting) has given her an understanding of how creative expressions can give people a safe place to begin exploring how to use their voice and how it can touch hearts to hear God’s voice. She also blogs at I just called to say "Olive Juice."
2 Comments
Marla Alupoaicei
Great post!
Jamie,
I enjoyed your post. The seminary experience does tend to make a person want to cling to certain things. I still have to overcome the urge to accept free things… any free thing, no matter how random.
Denise
Manna Horder
Wow….this spoke right to me. I am a hoarder too. I KNOW God will provide everything I need but I still have trouble letting things go “just in case I might need them”. I need to learn to let go of all those items cluttering up my home and life and rely on God to give me what I need, when I need it. Thanks for such a wonderful post.