Jesus in the Leaves

It's been cold, a sudden winter storm and we are all trying to catch up to what that means. This morning, after discussing with Silas (who is on breakfast strike for the 7500th time) that he used to like Honey Nut cereal (and Corn Flakes, and Rice Krispies), I put on my toque, my mitts and my mutt and headed out to Toronto Street for our daily walk.  The day is cloudy, wet, and grey.  The trees in fall should be all shades of golden colours, gently falling from the sky....but with the sudden freeze its sudden death.  They are brown and green and fall in clumps, like a shaggy dogs hair falling out in handfulls.  The sidewalk is full of wet, flat, gross looking leaves.  As I was contemplating one such patch of leaves, I saw a small card.  Bending down, I discovered a picture of Jesus, the catholic version.  I really wanted to pick it up and add it to my "inner-city walk collection" but I stopped myself as i reached for it.  It was in the middle of these gross looking leaves, wet and who knows if a dog pooped on it?  So I got up and walked away, kind of wishing I had picked it up and wiped it off.  Maybe the Father put it in my path for a reason?  I mused at 'Jesus in the leaves'.....

Yesterday, I was fuming in the aisles of SuperStore.  Mad, sorry, frustrated....'marital bliss, eh?'  I thought to myself, watching other couples picking their lettuces, oranges, deciding on soup together.  Why do they get to shop together and we are on a rollar coaster of work, issues, kids, dog and dirty dishes (and super huge grocery stores and I have a cart with the front wheel always turning left????).   In the middle of my internal rampage the words rung out in my mind "You shall not have any gods before Me"....like what, King James version, for one.  And two, is that you God or my wierd thinkings popping up again??   The line flashed through my mind again, "You shall not have any gods before Me", like maybe I should think more on this....my mind is whirling with grievances, wishes dashed and bitterness...working up a sweat comparing your life to others in a grocery store of all places!!  The Father was using King James for an age old problem....focusing on ME and everyone who makes my life miserable, not HIM and what He does to sustain, nurture, restore and grow true Life.  Ok, instant humility...the sweat is still pouring (now I'm in the self-check out and realizing how dumb that was with a cart load and a parka on).  Father, you win, teach me to bow down to You not Self (which is as big a god as those 500 foot Buddhas in Thailand).  

So that's why there was a Jesus in the leaves, hmmm......