Bricks

“A number of years back, a young and very successful executive was travelling down a suburban street in his brand new black Ferrari. Suddenly a brick was thrown from the sidewalk, thumping into the side of the car.

“Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the car back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. The driver jumped out, grabbed the kid who had thrown the brick and pushed him up against a parked car. “What was that all about?!” he screamed. “That’s my new Ferrari, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money!”

“Please, mister, please …. I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do!” pleaded the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop!” Tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed around the parked car. “It’s my brother, mister,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.” Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”

“The mood was transformed in a moment as the young executive realised what had occurred.  He lifted the young man into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts. He then watched as the younger brother pushed him down the sidewalk toward their home.

“The young exec never did fix the dented side door of his  sports car. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention.”*

Life can get hectic, can’t it?  We can get so busy with our own priorities and agendas that we can miss what’s truly important.  Why is it that it often takes a health crisis, a financial reversal, a family breakdown, etc., to finally get our attention?  Let’s learn to slow down enough to take stock of our lives BEFORE the brick comes our way.

God loves you!

Mike

*Adapted from storiesforpreaching.com