Sometimes you hear a message that just changes your perspective so much so that you need to share it with someone.  For those that are curious, I am a Christian, and the message of Jesus' Love is definitely worth hearing, but that's not what I am talking about here.  I did hear this message as a sermon, but it transcends a good Sunday message, so much so that I felt it was worth blogging about it in an area that Realtors and consumers both could read. 

First, some background on my week.  I'm working on a big announcement about being a RichLife Advisor.  Basically, by aligning myself with the RichLife organization, I'll holding myself to a standard that says that my prorities are:

1. God
2. Family
3. YOUR FAMILY
4. Business

You'll notice that YOUR Family jumped up to number 3.  I've always practiced my business this way, but now I'm just formalizing it.

In addition, my Operating Principal (the owner of my Franchise) handed me a book called, "Noticer" that has helped me look at the bright side of things even when things are down.

So I am pumped up about life and real estate most of time, but it's still a struggle.  

Fast forward to Sunday.  Our Church, Victory World Church is part of an 1800 Church unification project to have one prayer. This week's message is God is... UNLIMITED.  (Those of you who are non-Christians, continue on).  There's several things that he went into about how we have dominion over sin and can perform the works of Jesus.

He ended with the story of a young man diagnosed with Polio who could not walk.  His Mother would place him in a box and push him around the home. As she kept him with him, they would listen to Christian talk radio.   As he grew up he heard messages about faith and overcoming odds and how God heals.  He eventually had enough faith and began to rock the box until he fell out.  The first few times his Mother would scold him and then put him back into the box.  One day his mother left for a quick errand and he was able to rock himself out of the box.  He started to climb up some furniture to try and stand while a small voice said, "Keep Going."  He was standing up when his Mother walked in, shocked.  The man later became a successful business man. 

Finally, Pastor Dennis Rouse closed with another story that I think we've all been waiting for.

He brought out a jar of crickets with the lid on.  He began to talk about how people act when they drive a convertible.  They put the top down and they begin to smile and play music and really enjoy themselves and that is like our life.  Most of us in the Real Estate industry are driving around with the top up on a sunny day.

He then showed the crickets again and took the top off of the jar.  Not one cricket jumped out.  In fact, they not only had learned that there is no escape, but they had learned not to try.  In addition, many of the other crickets would pull down the cricket getting to the top of the perch.  

That's a lot like small business owners right now.  Sure it is tough, sure you will hit your head trying to make it, but the lid isn't always on the jar and you don't have to LIVE like it is.