So while I was in the prayer processing center waiting for prayers to be answere d (approved) it wouldn't be me to just sit and

wait . Its more in my character t o continue being tod . So I went on like I usually do . This time I paid more at tention to my immediate surroundings. Over the past weekend I was compelled to d o the 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 I'm 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 m uch closer was I to achieving them. Of all the aspirations I had, getting close r to what I knew to be God remained at the top. In spite of my shortcomings, fl aws and idiosyncrasies quirks, and eccentricities, God still remained at the top of the 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 don't. When I don't 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 m e humble. In springtime, my hands in dirt, planting vegetables or flowers puts me in touch with God. In the fall it does the same with raking. The more I raked the 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 1 0 responses? That was a good thing because those were the people who greeted me first and said Hey Thanx, Nice Job . To you ,that means absolutely nothing and i t shouldnt . To me it means that no good effort goes unnoticed...no matter how s mall. Rake Rake Rake You see , a long time ago, because of the people who I'm lucky enough to know, I learned how to be thankful.Everytime they complained about something or made l ight of my accomplishments or found mirth or mistake in everything I did, I secr etly blessed and thanked them for that. It taught me to take value in myself t he same way something higher than myself does . It's the thankless jobs that bu ild character because they are being done without expectation of reward, the t hings that people despise doing. Theyd rather be doing anything else.These are a lso the things that people who refused to do willingly, will complain about othe r people doing it. See, these are the lessons that a life lived, teaches us.That "s why I 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 trie s to .Their job is to do just that. They're in the processing center too, Pointi ng out everyones mistake . The flaws and mistakes we see in someone else are actually in ourselves . Thin k 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 ....I'm jus sayin. I'm sure we all know someone like that. Its best not to ever take advice from someone like that beca use its obvious they haven't tried their own . They are the people you come acr oss in the prayer processing waiting room. They have all the answers and advice , but its hard to detect that advice having an effect on them .I'm jus sayin .It s difficult for them to give a compliment but easier to find flaw. Its easier fo r them to ask for our prayers but harder to pray with someone. It's the magnifi cent Obsession that God has with us that shows us how to exercise that same con duct, discipline and compassion that we have within ourselves, with other peop le . Hmmm. Good thing I didn't 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. And not just from one or two or three people. In fact I actually thought that they w ere complaints . Remember ,I told you I was lucky enough to know people who are in charge of pointing out my mistakes and flaws and looking at what I was doing wrong or finding fault in things. I'm so lucky to know people like this because I can check myself and see what I would look like if I did those things. So when I saw messages thanking me from the most unlikeliest sources, I just thanked Go d for letting me know that no good deed goes unnoticed...no matter how small. An d just because someone else notices it ,it doesn't make it any gr8er. And if the y belittle it ,.it doesn't diminish it either. You just get another chance to sa y thank you. It doesn't give us a free pass to anything except gratitude to be a ble to take part in the smallest way in Gods gr8 tapestry. The small insignifica nt things that I do without recognition are what weaves itself into that tapestr y. 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, life is the gr8est teacher of life itself, but only as we let life live itself -tod. I'm jus sayin. This is how I fuel my ambition instead of my fear. It's a constant walking alone while knowing something gr8ter is near . It's really not about us at all becaus e we are insignificant. But here's where it gets interesting. As insignificant a s we are, we are also God s Magnificent Obsession . I know right? How can that b e?Lets not tarnish it by using logic to find out. I'm jus sayin. Logic banishes any chance we have at being awestruck at the sheer magnitude of his power. We fi nd out that we are a part of His Obsession every time we weave ourselves into th at 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 pe rson that you hold a grudge against woven in there. Oh yeah, did I mention pray er. And no, not the prayer that our great grand parents had. Its the prayer that evolved from that. The kind that excludes doctrine and law. The kind that just requires us to be honest . With ourselves. Yeah, that kind. It kinda abolishes t he need for that prayer approval committee , doesn't it? I'm jus sayin. The operators will still be standing by though........ It's exactly that kind of dialog we can have with ourselves dashed with humor as a side benefit that gives us glimpses into the inner workings of a Creator who could refer to each and everyone of us as His Magnificent Obsession. Rake Rake Rake Welcome leaves, Ive been expecting you.