“…And…. the fact is; it’s not gon’na CHANGE… until WE….CHANGE….”

 Obstacle: Who is it? What is it?  Is it him; or it, or …eh…eh…ME? We “all encounter” obstacles in our lives… starting with the baby crib. Mama won’t let “me out” to go about my business. Then there’s all those “rules in school,” that throw all kinds of OBSTACLES in from of me, as to what I WANT TO DO. Same for College, etc. Then marriage… all kinds of “rules, obligations, and commitments,” that HINDER what I want to do.

And, my BOSS, he’s always “getting in the way,” of what I think is the better way of doing my job….after all, I’m the one that’s actually doing this crap every day; if he’d only listen to me, I could make us all RICH. My co-workers… they just don’t see it, as I do. They’re always prancing around kissing “you know whose tail.”

I think it all started out in grammar school, when my parents “insisted I go to Church,” but I remember the details….”they just DROPPED me OFF,” to fend for myself; while they went… eh…who cares? We’ve all encountered these types of ROADBLOCKS all of our life.

And the fact is; it won’t CHANGE… until WE-CHANGE. Might it not be….US? Might we be the “real obstacle?” Might we be the one with the ATTITUDE? Are we the “know-it-all-KING?” It may be, just maybe… the reason we have “so many obstacles,” is that we are the OBSTACLE. We have camouflaged “the real me,” with BLAMING everything, on EVERYBODY else. It’s the “other-guy” who has the 2×4 in his eye… not me… or you. We’re the RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS….yeah…right. How did we get in this HOLE, and how do we get OUT?

I think… it might be called….SURRENDER. We’re not willing to admit we’re WRONG; we’re not willing to that the 2×4 is “self-imposed,” and we can’t see our own faults because “we so busy” trying to find fault in others. STOP… THINK…and, LISTEN. The message is all around us. We’re just not “tuned-in.” We’ve got to synchronize our heart, brain, and soul… with God. We need to put those “special gifts,” of HUMILITY to work. Humility has a way of being a CLEANSING agent.

For some, it might even be “hitting rock-bottom,” before we can began to “get up.” You’ll know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go…. and let God work. You don’t have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more.

You will recognize SURRENDER when you don’t react to criticism and rush to defend yourself. A surrendered heart will show up best in relationships; when you are STOP-self-serving, and START-serving-others. Surrendering “your money,” is the most difficult… CONQUER that, and you will be well on your way to REMOVING those bitter OBSTACLES.

Jesus surrendered to His Father as He prayed, “God, if it is in your best interest to remove this suffering, please do so. But if it fulfills your purpose, that’s what I want, too.” Complete surrender says, “Father, if this problem, pain, sickness, or circumstance is needed to fulfill your purpose and glory in my life or in another’s life, please don’t take it away!”

If we took the “same energy,” used fighting our daily obstacles; and COMMIT that energy to SERVING others, than soon…. Those OBSTACLES will become OPPORTUNITY. …Blessings… cjlb…4/9/15.

Photo Credit: 123RF.com