Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Once upon a time, two teenagers lived in a big city. One was named Anna, and the other was named Ben. Anna was a hard-working and ambitious girl who studied hard at school and had a part-time job at a bookstore. She was always eager to learn new things and improve herself. On the other hand, Ben was a lazy and entitled boy who skipped classes and wasted his time on social media. He constantly expected others to do things for him and give him what he wanted.

One day, their school announced they were organizing a trip to a nearby national park where the students could learn about nature and wildlife. The trip was optional, but the students who wanted to go had to pay a fee of $100. Anna was interested in the trip and decided to save up for it. She worked extra hours at the bookstore and cut down on her expenses. She also researched the national park and prepared a list of things to see and do there. Ben was also interested in the trip but didn’t want to pay for it. He asked his parents to give him the money, but they refused. They told him he had to earn it himself and suggested he find a job or sell some of his stuff. Ben was angry and thought his parents were unfair, but he was determined not to be left behind.

After a few weeks, Anna had saved enough money for the trip and registered for it. She was excited and packed her backpack with the essentials. Ben had not committed or worked to earn money for the journey. Frustrated, he decided to sneak onto the bus with the other students. He thought that no one would notice him and that he could enjoy the trip for free.

The next day, the students boarded the bus, and Ben, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, snuck on the bus without the teacher’s knowledge. Anna was in the front,  excited and chatting with her friends. Ben was hiding in the back of the bus with his head covered, his headphones on, scrolling through his phone, oblivious to everyone else.

The bus arrived at the national park, and the Park Ranger stepped on and gave them rules to keep their day safe! The students got off. The teacher gave them a map and a guidebook and told them they had four hours to explore the park independently. He also told them to meet back at the bus at 4 pm sharp.

Anna was thrilled and followed the map and the guidebook. She saw many beautiful and unique things, such as waterfalls, mountains, lakes, forests, and animals. She took pictures, collected souvenirs, and learned facts and stories about the park. She also met friendly park rangers, who gave her tips and advice. She had a wonderful time and felt enriched and inspired.

Ben never did hear what the Ranger instructed. When he ventured out, he was immediately bored, ignored the map and the guidebook, and wandered aimlessly. He saw nothing but dirt, rocks, and trees. He took selfies, complained, and made fun of the park. He also annoyed a couple of park rangers. He had a terrible time.

At 4 p.m., Anna and the other students returned to the bus, thanking their teacher for the great experience. Anna was happy and shared her experiences and discoveries with her friends. Ben was lost in the woods and didn’t return in time. And since the teacher knew nothing about Ben being on the trip, the bus left without him, returning to the school with the students.

An hour after the students left, a Park Ranger found Ben wandering in the woods and realized he was lost. The Ranger started asking Ben questions and suspected that most of what he heard was not the truth.  He called Ben’s parents, who were furious! They were mad at the school, the teacher, and the students for leaving Ben behind. Ben initially blamed them all, but after a thorough investigation, the truth came out. No one knew he was on the bus trip, including Ben’s parents. Even so, Ben shifted the blame on his parents for not paying for the trip to begin with. And this continued to be the pattern of Ben’s life.

Anna went on to live a successful and fulfilling life and was respected and admired by everyone. She credited God and her parents for teaching her to be diligent in every aspect of life and always seeking God’s help in whatever she put her hands to. Her favorite scripture to keep her on track was Proverbs 10:4, which said, “Lazy hands make for poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” 

Ben lived a mediocre and unhappy life and was ignored and forgotten by everyone. He was haunted by the Bible verse his mother would say to him when Ben listened to no one but himself. “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15). He was still living in the misery of not listening to anyone but himself, but expecting the world to take care of him, and blaming God and the world for what he didn’t have.

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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