by Scott Blum
Often, people would glance at the signs and walk by without saying anything, but occasionally a particular sign would hit a nerve. On an exceptionally beautiful day at the beginning of summer, he transcribed a thought from a silverhaired lady with kind green eyes:
Always receive with grace.
For some reason, this particular sign encouraged a larger number of shoppers than normal to share their money with him. It didn’t occur to Robert that people would pay him to give a voice to other people’s thoughts, but he was thankful, since it made taking care of Don and himself much easier.
“Today is the first day of summer,” said Robert while repositioning his sign.
“Honey Moon,” added Don.
“Aw, you remembered.” Robert smiled. “Happy honeymoon to you, too.”
“The days will be getting shorter.”
“It’s also the warmest time of the year.”
Don closed his eyes at the moment that a boyish young man with shaggy brown hair walked out the Co-op doors. He was dressed inconspicuously in jeans and a T-shirt, but there was something about his energy that attracted Robert’s attention.
As the young man exited the double doors, Robert noticed him reading the sign intently.
“That’s ironic,” the young man said.
“What’s ironic?” asked Robert.
He kept walking past, and Robert repeated, “What’s ironic?”
The young man slowly turned around and with a startled look on his face, said, “It’s ironic that you’re giving advice on how to receive, when you’re asking for money.”
“I’m not asking for anything.” Robert smirked. “Right now I’m giving.”
“So when are you going to give me something?”
“I already have, but you wouldn’t accept it in the manner it was offered.”
“Oh, I think you’re mistaken. You definitely haven’t given me anything. Perhaps you confused me with someone else.”
“No, I didn’t confuse you with anyone else!” Robert tried to act annoyed for effect. “Please leave now; I’m very busy.”
The young man looked around at the unusually empty parking lot, obviously very confused.
“Please leave now,” Robert repeated and turned away. The young man stood stunned for a second before walking away from the Co-op.
“That was mean,” said Don. “Why did you mess with him like that?”
“To make an impression,” answered Robert.
“Well, I think you did that. And what was all that about giving him something?”
“He’ll find out soon enough,” laughed Robert. “It’s already been set into motion—he’ll be back to find out more.”
At that moment a young mother exited the Co-op, balancing a bag of groceries while pushing a baby stroller. Robert wrote down her thought, which seemed to follow the previous sign perfectly.
I want an orange.
What do you want?
Within ten minutes, Robert had acquired nearly a dozen oranges. He put the citrus into his drawstring bag for later and patiently awaited the young man’s return. After nearly an hour, Robert saw him enter the store once again after glancing in their direction.
“See, I told you he’d be back,” said Robert. “I’ll bet you ten oranges to one he’s going to give us another navel.”
“I hate oranges,” said Don. “I can’t even stand the thought of fruit anymore.”
Within just a few minutes, the young man exited the glass double doors and tossed an orange to Robert.
“Thanks,” said Robert while trying to muster a look of surprise and gratefulness. “That’s the best thing that’s happened to me all day.”
“So you can help me get what I want?”
“Of course I can,” replied Robert.
“How can you do that?”
“You can manifest anything you want.”
“Oh, really? Why don’t you do it?”
“I do, every day.”
“Then why are you still homeless?”
“Why do you think I’m homeless?” Robert wanted to make a point about not making any assumptions. It would be an important lesson if they began to do any work together.
“What do you manifest?” the young man asked after a long pause.
“Today I manifested an orange.”
He laughed. “All you did was write a sign that said you wanted an orange.”
“And you gave me one. So clearly I was successful at manifesting.” Robert smiled proudly.
“So if I want a million dollars, all I have to do is make a sign that says ‘Give me a million dollars’ and someone will just give it to me?”
“Do you believe that will happen?”
“Of course not! There’s no way some guy is going to see a sign and give me a million bucks!”
“Then you answered your own question.”
“So you agree—you can’t just make anything you want appear out of nowhere.”
“No. I simply agree you don’t believe that’s the right way to manifest a million dollars. Manifesting isn’t about making a halfhearted effort and then failing. Manifesting is about aligning your goals and your destiny so they become one. You have to believe without a doubt and act without pause, or else you’re wasting your time. Do you really want a million dollars?”
“Of course I do.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have an orange, and it doesn’t look like you have anywhere near a million dollars in your pocket. What do you really want?” Robert asked.
“To be happy,” the young man answered after a long pause.
“Now that’s something I can help you with. Once you’re honest with yourself, you’re halfway there. I’m Robert,” he said with his hand outstretched.
“I’m Scott.” They shook hands.
“Nice to meet you, Scott. And this is my puppy, Don. Come back here tomorrow around the same time, and I’ll have something for you.”
Scott walked up the hill toward town with his groceries.
“I told you I made an impression on him,” Robert said to the sleeping puppy.
At that instant, a bright blue dragonfly descended from the trees above and hovered three inches from Robert’s nose. He looked deep into the dragonfly’s eyes and nodded slowly. “Yes, that was definitely him,” Robert said aloud. “And now the fun begins.”
AFTERWORD
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading about Robert and Don’s adventures during the first part of their time together. If you’re interested in what happens next, the journey continues in Waiting for Autumn, which is available at your local bookstore or on my website at: www.scottblum.net. Here’s a little bit about Waiting for Autumn:
“Waiting for Autumn is a warm and revealing book
about personal transformation. Its narrative reveals
the honesty of one who has really walked the path of
forgiveness and divine connection and found the
rewards of intuition, mission, and synchronistic flow.
This book will speak to everyone.”
— James Redfield, the author of
The Celestine Prophecy
Until we meet again, I wish you the best on your personal journey and hope that you will always be aware enough to follow your own destiny.
— Scott Blum
Ashland, Oregon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Blum is the best-selling author of Waiting for Autumn and the co-founder of the popular inspirational website DailyOM (dailyom.com). He is also a successful multimedia artist who has collaborated with several popular authors, musicians, and visual artists and has produced many critically acclaimed works, including a series featuring ancient meditation music from around the world. Scott lives in the mountains of Ashland, Oregon, with Madisyn Taylor—his wife, business partner, and soul mate.
For more about Scott Blum and his projects, visit: www.scottblum.net.
&nbs
p; RESOURCES
DailyOM is the online resource that Scott Blum and his wife, Madisyn Taylor, run together. It has become the premier destination for providing inspirational content, products, and courses around the globe from some of today’s best-selling authors and luminaries.
“Inspirational thoughts for a happy,
healthy and fulfilling day.”
www.dailyom.com
Judith Blackstone is an amazing teacher and creator of Realization Process, which encompasses many ideas, including her profound work with embodiment.
“For spiritual realization to be an actual transformation
of our being, rather than just a change in
our beliefs, it requires an awakening of fundamental
consciousness in the whole body.”
www.realizationcenter.com
Hay House Titles of Related Interest
YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE, the movie,
starring Louise L. Hay & Friends
(available as a 1-DVD program and an expanded 2-DVD set)
Watch the trailer at: www.LouiseHayMovie.com
THE SHIFT, the movie,
starring Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
(available as a 1-DVD program and an expanded 2-DVD set)
Watch the trailer at: www.DyerMovie.com
DAILYOM: Learning to Live, by Madisyn Taylor
LINDEN’S LAST LIFE: The Point of No Return
Is Just the Beginning, by Alan Cohen
MESSAGES FROM SPIRIT: The Extraordinary Power of
Oracles, Omens, and Signs, by Colette Baron-Reid
REPETITION: Past Lives, Life, and Rebirth,
by Doris E. Cohen, Ph.D.
SOLOMON’S ANGELS, by Doreen Virtue
VISIONSEEKER: Shared Wisdom from the
Place of Refuge, by Hank Wesselman, Ph.D.
All of the above are available at your local bookstore,
or may be ordered by contacting Hay House (see next page).
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