8/3/2019 And Now back to our regularly scheduled Tod

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And now back regularly scheduled Tod

So while I was in the prayer processing center waiting for prayers to be answered (approved) it wouldnt be me to just sit and wait . Its more in my character tocontinue being tod . So I went on like I usually do . This time I paid more atte

ntion to my immediate surroundings. Over the past weekend I was compelled to dothe good deed of raking leaves up on the block. Its therapeutic. It gave me a chance to think. The year was coming to an end and I always say every thing Im doing now is happening for a reason, its preparing me for the next thing. As I raked I thought about my small accomplishments and my loftier aspirations. How muchcloser was I to achieving them. Of all the aspirations I had, getting closer towhat I knew to be God remained at the top. In spite of my shortcomings, flaws

and idiosyncrasies quirks, and eccentricities, God still remained at the top ofthe list. I was determined to get on that G list. Im jus sayin. And not because I get my way all the time, but because I dont. When I dont get my way I end up with a bit more than I asked for needed or deserved.Rake , Rake, Rake

This menial, thankless effort that I was putting forth was just enough to keep me humble. In springtime, my hands in dirt, planting vegetables or flowers putsme in touch with God. In the fall it does the same with raking. The more I rakedthe more they fell. And when I said thankless I spoke too soon. Remember how I

said earlier Part of my thing was to speak to 10 people in the morning and get 10 responses? That was a good thing because those were the people who greeted mefirst and said Hey Thanx, Nice Job . To you ,that means absolutely nothing and it shouldnt . To me it means that no good effort goes unnoticedno matter how small.Rake Rake RakeYou see , a long time ago, because of the people who Im lucky enough to know, Ilearned how to be thankful.Everytime they complained about something or made light of my accomplishments or found mirth or mistake in everything I did, I secret

ly blessed and thanked them for that. It taught me to take value in myself thesame way something higher than myself does . Its the thankless jobs that build

character because they are being done without expectation of reward, the things that people despise doing. Theyd rather be doing anything else.These are alsothe things that people who refused to do willingly, will complain about other people doing it. See, these are the lessons that a life lived, teaches us.Thats whyI like to do things like raking or working alone, so I, and I alone could look

back at what I achieved, correct my own mistakes before some one else tries to .Their job is to do just that. Theyre in the processing center too, Pointing out everyones mistake. The flaws and mistakes we see in someone else are actually in ourselves . Think about it, if all an individual can see in someone else are their flaws, then i

ts likely that is all they have in them .Im jus sayin. Im sure we all know someonelike that. Its best not to ever take advice from someone like that because itsobvious they havent tried their own . They are the people you come across in theprayer processing waiting room. They have all the answers and advice , but its

hard to detect that advice having an effect on them .Im jus sayin .Its difficultfor them to give a compliment but easier to find flaw. Its easier for them to ask for our prayers but harder to pray with someone. Its the magnificent Obsessionthat God has with us that shows us how to exercise that same conduct, discipli

ne and compassion that we have within ourselves, with other people .Hmmm.Good thing I didnt take value in their opinion. A Higher opinion means more to me. I feel a lot better when I see myself as God does .Just like I am. Imperfect.Rake, Rake Rake

As the weekend went on I noticed that I had some text messages thanking me. Andnot just from one or two or three people. In fact I actually thought that they were complaints . Remember ,I told you I was lucky enough to know people who are

8/3/2019 And Now back to our regularly scheduled Tod

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in charge of pointing out my mistakes and flaws and looking at what I was doingwrong or finding fault in things. Im so lucky to know people like this because Ican check myself and see what I would look like if I did those things. So when Isaw messages thanking me from the most unlikeliest sources, I just thanked God

for letting me know that no good deed goes unnoticedno matter how small. And justbecause someone else notices it ,it doesnt make it any gr8er. And if they belitt

le it ,.it doesnt diminish it either. You just get another chance to say thank yo

u. It doesnt give us a free pass to anything except gratitude to be able to takepart in the smallest way in Gods gr8 tapestry. The small insignificant things that I do without recognition are what weaves itself into that tapestry. The different types of people who are woven in intricately will teach me the gr8est lessons in life , and I will learn those lessons from their experiences. Oh yes, lifeis the gr8est teacher of life itself, but only as we let life live itself -tod.Im jus sayin.

This is how I fuel my ambition instead of my fear. Its a constant walking alone while knowing something gr8ter is near . Its really not about us at all because weare insignificant. But heres where it gets interesting. As insignificant as we a

re, we are also God s Magnificent Obsession . I know right? How can that be?Letsnot tarnish it by using logic to find out. Im jus sayin. Logic banishes any chan

ce we have at being awestruck at the sheer magnitude of his power. We find out that we are a part of His Obsession every time we weave ourselves into that tapestry. Its woven with threads of compassion,you, understanding ,obedience, me, prayer,friends prayer and a little more prayer. There is a bit of that person that you hold a grudge against woven in there. Oh yeah, did I mention prayer. Andno, not the prayer that our great grand parents had. Its the prayer that evolvedfrom that. The kind that excludes doctrine and law. The kind that just requiresus to be honest . With ourselves. Yeah, that kind. It kinda abolishes the need

for that prayer approval committee , doesnt it? Im jus sayin.The operators will still be standing by though..Its exactly that kind of dialog we can have with ourselves dashed with humor asa side benefit that gives us glimpses into the inner workings of a Creator wh

o could refer to each and everyone of us as His Magnificent Obsession.

Rake Rake RakeWelcome leaves, Ive been expecting you.