No Lego too small

When I was a kid I loved playing with Legos!!! It was evident if anyone noticed the light spots where the material on my jeans had worn or even holes from a constant posture of being on my knees to create my next magnificent creation. I often would get into arguments and fights with my younger sister when she would come in and distract me or even destroy my creation. I would spend hours on these lego masterpieces, well at least they were masterpieces to me! I am pretty sure that my entire family knew I had a thing for legos. I think it was my 10th birthday when my Auntie Connie bought me a Star Wars lego set, I was Hype! Even though I was not and am not to this day a fan of star wars. I was excited that I had something to put together, something that came in maybe over 100 pieces that would eventually make one flying machine. I couldn't wait till the next morning to wake up and pour all those pieces on the floor and put them all together! The high lasted until it was finished then I would disassemble it and use the pieces to create my own ideas. I loved legos so much once I called myself running away because of some argument with my older brother and sister, and the only thing I grabbed was my big container of legos. Legos were life.

From this passion for Legos developed this idea that I should go into construction in some way. First I would just say I wanted to be a builder, then I am not sure where the idea of becoming an architect came from but I road with that idea all the way through high school. I left New Mexico Highlands University after my freshman year to head to Alabama A&M University to study Construction Management. I thought this was close enough! Then after things with football didn't pan out at A&M I left after my first semester. Eventually ended up at Bethel College to study Business Administration. I thought this would be close enough! I figured a construction company is a business, so I should be fine.

I tried my hardest to stay close to this building idea that came from this passion in playing with Legos. I eventually came up with this idea to start a renovation company and keep everything in house. I've always been fascinated with the idea of having a team of specialist! A designer, A planner, finance Person, marketing, contractor, plumber, electrician and so on. I had this idea for having one office where all these specialists planned and worked together on each project. Renovation became my plan! I wanted to take a frame and give it new life!

I am sure you can see where I am going with this..

Well obviously, if you read the two previous blog posts you know I am not the leader of a renovation and design company. I actually found my way into Ministry and sort of social work. Until recently, I never connected the dots, I thought I had completely alienated my goal of building. I had it so backwards or just confused completely as a younger man. I thought I would do the building thing in my late 30s or 40s. Now I realize I stepped into the building and renovation field before I even graduated from College.

God began to train me as a child to love taking pieces and put them together to make them whole! Taking a bucket of individual lego pieces, which by themselves look useless. Just little pieces of plastic that will destroy the bottom of your foot if you stepped on it barefoot at night. Different colors, shapes and sizes. If you poured them all out on the floor they look like chaos and randomness. I can still picture the pile of legos on our tan carpet, looking at them and having a vision in my head of what all these random pieces could be. That every piece can be used! No piece is useless!


Now if you don't know where I am going with this, let me take you there!


When I first came to the mission. I saw this huge raw and somewhat falling apart building. I saw randomness and if you have volunteered on a work day sometimes it seems like randomness. Talking with Penny Dugan she told me the vision and said God told her that this huge 75,000 square foot building will be a physical manifestation of what he will do in the hearts and minds of those who come here. She went on to say what the world called condemned and trash God will take it and restore it. Now why did it take me 4 years of being here for me to see where God had already connected the dots, I couldn't tell you! but now when I look at this building in its randomness and sometimes what seems like chaos. I can see a pile of legos just begging to be put together!

Better than the
building, when I sit with the men that live here and the ones that pass
through. They tell me their stories and tell me their struggles and I can look
and see a pile of legos on the floor begging to be put together and made whole!
Pieces that could only be put together on my knees. I see pieces that look
random but not useless. I see pieces of their lives that may hurt like the lego
on the floor in the dark, but when put all together they make a beautiful
masterpiece!

I know I am only
26, and I have not the slightest idea of all that God will bring into my life,
but I think it is so beautiful to look back and see God's strategic planning.
It blows my mind that he plants seeds at such a young age with something that
seems so insignificant. Legos!

I encourage you to
reflect on your life and ask God what skill or what desire did He plant inside
of you that seemed insignificant but is in reality a major building block for
your purpose. No matter how small that lego is let Him use it!

I know I am not the
builder that pieces lives together, God is I am just tool that He has decided
to use and I am grateful and humbled at the opportunity. I leave you with this:

Romans 8:28 And we
know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those
who are called according to his purpose.


Until next time
Do y'all thang
homies!!