The Brick

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7005 Location: USA

I recieved one of those 'chain emails' today and thought I would share it with y'all. I don't usually pass stuff like this around, however, this message did speak to me.

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the
Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and
pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic.

"Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears
dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It s my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his
wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:

"Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to
get your attention!"

Moral of the story....God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts
Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us.

It's our choice to listen or not.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without
rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and
light for the way
_________________
JP's Mind - my blog

Fake · Tiger Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 862

I don't need a "God" to tell me what's the right thing to do is...

And I would certainly not keep the dent in my car, for the purpouse of reminding me what "good" means. I have enough integrity to know the difference of a humane act and an imhumane act. It has nothing whatsoever to do with one's faith in a diety.

Pretty much what that chain letter says is, that if you're not Christian, you will not care about others. If you subscribe to that view, I do feel sorry for you.

Fake
_________________
I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do.
When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

“If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion.”

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7005 Location: USA

I think you are reaching for straws. I don't thnk that story said anything like you purport it to. I'm surprised at your response Fake, so unlike you (from what I've seen on this board) to search for a strawman to begin an argument.
_________________
JP's Mind - my blog

metothezero · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 10:59 am Post subject:

NOWHERE in that story does it say that God told the rich man what the right thing to do was. And NOWHERE does it imply that the rich man was even a Christian, he saw that he should help the little boy, not because God told him to, but because it was the right thing to do. The story was used to parrallel other instances of when God cannot get our attention, mainly the story was written to Christians, yes. But to say that you do not need God to tell you what the right thing to do, I believe I've responded to one of your post on this already....read that and you'll get my opinion.
_________________
The very idea of freedom presupposes some objective moral law which overarches rulers and ruled alike.
C. S. Lewis

Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness. --R. Hall.

thunder · Lion King Joined: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 1222

I have to admit...that Fake had me faked out until I realised she was seriously offended by the little tale of the brick.

One can only wonder what kind of horrible series of events would lead a person to be so outspoken in hatred toward the thought that God has any thing to do with our existence, much less a brick on the side of a car.

I recently purchased a new sport bike, a Yamaha R6, added a jet kit, K&N filter, full D&D exhaust, Metzeler ( super soft ) racing tires and immediately dropped the bike on its side by spinning the rear wheel out from under it.

The drop left deep scratches on the engine crank cover cap, rear fairing and handle bar end cap. All pretty noticible to those who are looking but to me, it's a reminder of how quickly I can do something stupid and get killed or worse.

Did I want the scratches on the ( beautiful and very, very fast ) sport bike ? No...but I appreciate the reminder more than I appreciate good looks.

You had me going Fake !

Note : some people want a god that is more like a pop machine, just put in two quarters and make your selection...and God is not at our disposal.

thunder
_________________
Submit to God in Christ

Fake · Tiger Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 862

thunder · Lion King Joined: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 1222

See what I mean...you really had me going !

Male or female...simply amazing !

I apologise...I guess...who knew

thunder
_________________
Submit to God in Christ

Da Blonde Bombshell · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 9:01 am Post subject:

If the guy was a Christian of the type Christ wants us to be he would've sold the Jag and started driving a Kia Rio or a Chevy S-10 pickup, and donated the money perhaps to fund services to the disabled Very Happy

.
_________________
"Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials." (James 1:2)

"The tendency to claim God as an ally for our partisan values and ends is the source of all religious fanaticism." -Reinhold Niebuhr

Winston · Big Goldfish Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Posts: 74

Good Story you posted, Rev Smile

HeKkLeR · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 3:29 pm Post subject:

Fake... uhh... nevermind...

Winston · Big Goldfish Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Posts: 74

Hekkler, you claimed, "That would be just an act of works to gain attention."

Exactly, that was my point too. Also, if the man chose to give something more, instead of giving to charities, he should instead give a piece of himself(as in time, or even friendship)

HeKkLeR · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:10 am Post subject: