Hustle Hard

(From Tuesday June 5, 2012) Today, I pounded the pavement. Yup, walked up and down the streets of my neighborhood looking for a JOB. 1st stop: Whole Foods...and then every place I could think to go to try and find work. This student situation puts you in an interesting dilemma. You need to focus on studying, but you have to live. The rent and bills don't just magically disappear. I still have my grant monies and am waiting on a reply from the fellowship I applied for about funding for the upcoming school year...but in the meantime, there's July and August rent, phone, cable, food, and bills. I long ago challenged myself in the area of poverty consciousness; I decided to work at not dwelling on lack, especially when my version of "being without" is comparatively far less difficult than what many have to endure. So today, thanks to the support and accountability of my partner I went from place to place in search of a way...praying the whole time. As I walked from Cake Love to the Civic Building to the local Beauty Supply store, I thought to myself that this feeling was a little unfamiliar. I've been used to working or simply using online services to find work in my professional field, but today was different. I withstood a lot of "No's", but also encountered some very helpful people along the way. By the time I got home, I had information for some promising leads, but found myself in the original dilemma. The truth is, just taking any job would probably not be enough to cover my bills and expenses, and would thus probably consume more time than be productive toward my goals. But I need to do something. There's a part of me that, while going through these motions, really believes that God is going to work something out and very soon. But I don't want to be a watchful waiter. I know prayer without action sometimes produces no outcomes, so I must do my part... I guess I write this entry today really to be sure to include how real it gets sometimes in this process. Hopefully, I will have good news to report soon, but for now, keep a sister in your prayers. #acceptingdonations