Archives at Zinester: "now I understand". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "now I understand" - July22, 2006

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

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Hello, my friend!

I did indeed have a wonderful 56th birthday. The best in a very long time

I would say. Thank you to all of you who sent e-cards, messages and a

hold-them-in-your-hand real cards, too.

I have suddenly found myself in the wisdom business. A few people, new and old

"Friends I've never met," wrote to ask my thoughts on some personal challenges.

I love when God trusts me that much.

"Now I understand...."

Note: Here is the link to the Beliefnet article I wrote regarding the new show

"The Messengers" airs this Sunday evening 10/9central.

Love always and all ways,

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Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"Need answers to life? Look around you. Even the wind

has a story to tell." Bob Perks

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F R E E

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Make a donation to

help us continue to

"Touch the world one person at a time"

These messages are f r e e...

but writing and speaking is the way I make a living.

If you enjoy reading and sharing my work, you can help us continue

our "Ministry of the Heart" in 2006 by making a donation of any amount:

http://www.bobperks.com/donations.htm

If you can't help financially at this time there is something you can do...

an even greater need...

please pray for our mission to "touch the world one person at a time."

Thanks, my friend!

Bob and Marianne

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Today's Message:

"Now I understand!"

by Bob Perks

Did you ever put a puzzle together?

When I was a child I enjoyed it very much. As the years collected on my
calendar I found I had no time for puzzles. Nor did I have that special gift
necessary for puzzle solving...patience.

Although patience is still not one of my virtues, I've discovered living is
puzzle solving. I believe that when we are born we are given this great box
filled with of pieces of our lives. Without knowing it day by day we place
another piece perfectly on the board. You might think that those days that we
find ourselves struggling and confused leaves an empty spot in the puzzle.

You are wrong. Those are the most important pieces. Just like the best lessons
learned in life are the ones learned the hard way.

Most of the pieces in my life are people shaped. That is because I place so
much value on the lives that intersect my own along my path to happiness and
success. Each and every one of them act as guides assuring me that I am going
in the right direction.

Yes, there are those who step into the picture tempting me to take a different
road. They are in fact extra pieces that make the process more challenging.
They represent things we try desperately to fit in our plans that are not
needed to complete the whole picture.

Perhaps you remember times in your life when you strayed from your course lured
by the glitter of an opportunity that seemed too good to be true. As much as
you tried you just couldn't make it work. It was like taking a piece of the
puzzle and trying to slam it, beat it into place. You wanted it so badly that
when no one was looking you even tried to trim it a bit so that it would fit
into that spot, only to step back and realize that it really had no place at
all.

Once it was removed the perfect piece slid into place. I call that piece
wisdom. In that moment you saw the perfection in your life. When you first sit
down with a puzzle you are overwhelmed by the complexity. This represents the
youthful spirited part. During this time we are still experimenting, wandering
and adventuresome. But at a given point you suddenly begin to see the entire
picture more clearly. This represents the mature wisdom-filled part of life.
Many, myself included, still are driven by the awesomeness of life itself, but
find themselves now grounded by truth.

That is where I am today. I can honestly pinpoint the moment when one single
piece of my life's puzzle suddenly made my entire future clear. That is when I
truly began to value life more. It was the day we discovered my son Keith had
cancer and again with Marianne's.

Moments like that take you to a new level. It can bring you down to despair and
failure or lift you up to an awakening, a rebirth of all you were meant to be.

At this point I eagerly await each new day and the pieces of the puzzle it
brings.

Permit me to share my life's vision.

First of all you are each a part of it. Together you collectively represent a
most valuable piece. You permit me to sharpen my creativity and fulfill my
commitment to change the world one person at a time. I have come full circle and now
gaze in awe of this collage I have created. I feel deeply that the piece I am
working on now as a writer and speaker will very soon take me to that point of
completion on a journey that has been both rewarding and challenging.

Yes, there are many more parts to this puzzle scattered about. But the frame
work is about to be completed. I now see my life as a whole.

I challenge you today to take another look at your life. Visualize all of the
completed parts and see scattered around you the pieces that remain. Know that
there, lying before you, is everything you need to become whole.
Remember how good it felt as a child each time you found that perfect piece?
Remember how many pieces you tried before you found the one that fit? But you
never stopped trying.

Well, like people you meet everyday or a good book you read, they may not have a
place at that moment, but somewhere down the road you'll look back at them and
say, "Now I understand!"

And on that last day as life hands you the final piece, imagine the glory and
excitement you'll experience when you realize how perfectly beautiful your life
has been.

Thank you all for being a part of mine.

"I believe in You!"

I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when

copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information

attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use of this

story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission

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May I Suggest...

Need a quick pick me up?

Visit my audio blog to hear my inspirational messages

and you can hear me sing, too.

http://www.bobperks.blogspot.com/

Visit my photo album:

Why not send me your picture to be added to

"My Friends I've never met"

Think you missed a message from me?

Here are the archives...

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Your Comments... If you would like to share brief comment

about today's message, please write to Bob@BobPerks.com

I will use only first names and no email addresses.

RE: "Lasting Legacy"

I don't recall how I ended up receiving your emails but I have to tell you they

put a spring in my step daily. love it! Thanks for being there and blessings

Bob, Your 'Lasting Legacy' is what you will be remembered for and

you have touched so many lives already. Way too many to put a

number to. You also will be remembered for being such a great

inspirational writer, whether you want it or not! :-)

I hope your day is everything you want it to be. You (and Marianne)

Happy Birthday Chief Bob! - just had to letcha know that "Mama T" is right

- "My dear friend, Bob~ Hearing from you is like receiving a letter from home. May you

and your family be filled with love, light, and blessings~Mama T" when we hear updates

from you about Marianne and your family it is like receiving a letter from home.

Thank you for letting us know how Marianne is doing - i see her in my prayers

each day. And by the way you said: "I don't want to leave a lasting legacy...I want

to leave the world a little better because I lived at all." Oh Bob, each day you

truly make this world lots better. Thank you Bob for believing in all of us.

Happy Birthday Chief! Sing - dance - laugh - today is your special day!

just me pat - a friend you've never met

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"I wish you enough!"
Bob

Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist.
Member National Speakers Association.
Visit http://www.BobPerks.com

Visit Bob's story site: http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
Sign up to receive Bob's free stories sent three times weekly.

"I wish you enough!"
written by Bob Perks (c) 2001

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."