Shade Tree Wisdom 4/13/10

“I’m afraid, Pastor, this car has had it. I’m sorry, I just can’t do any more. Time to look for a new car”. Reluctantly the Pastor started looking, and bargaining, and he was a master at that. Finally he found just what he felt he needed, enough room for the family, nice looking, ran smoothly, and got good gas mileage too. So brought it home. Loved that new car smell. At home the family inspected that car and approved, and Pastor gave them a stern lecture about not spilling Kool Aid on the seats or throwing candy wrappers on the floor.

Just then the phone rang and it was a member saying, “Oh, Pastor, Emil has had a heart attack and is at Memorial. Could you please come? I know he hasn’t been to church much lately but right now we need you”. So he promised to come right away.

On his way along a street where children were playing, he drove slowly. Then he heard a thump, and even felt it hit the car, so he slammed on the brakes and out jumped 200 pounds of irate Pastor. As he looked on the side, he noticed a dent in the car, and the brick that did it was lying right there. So was the boy who threw that brick. He looked ready to run, but stood there, half afraid, half defiant when Pastor said, “You’ll pay for this.” The boy said, “I had to do something. I need help and you did not hear me call. My brother’s wheel chair fell and he’s got a broken leg and can’t get up.” Right away anger gave way to pity, and Pastor righted the chair, helped the boy into it, and gathered the groceries they had been taking home, even helped them to the door, where he met their mother who also had a broken leg.

Quickly he introduced himself and excused himself, for he had to rush to the hospital, but asked if he might stop on the way home. He was invited.

At Memorial he found Emil resting comfortably. He had a bedside prayer and a brief devotion, then told Emil about the brick and asked, “Emil, is this heart attack God’s brick to you? Is God calling you to become more faithful in keeping your confirmation vow? Please think about it.”

Then he prayed again and left, and stopped at the home where he had preciously helped the boys get their groceries home. He visited with the mother, who was a widower, and her sons, invited them, to church and Sunday School, and in time they joined the church and served their Lord joyfully.

Jeremiah knows about such bricks, does he not? He lived to see his country led into captivity, and also preached a return after 70 years, when God would restore the now chastened people.

Sad to say we often need such ‘bricks’ to remind us of promises we made, vows we are not keeping, lives we are misspending. I pray when the Lord sends His bricks as reminders, maybe an illness, a job loss, loss of a friend, a move to another place, we will hear the message and give it attention. May God bless such ‘bricks’.

GPD 4/13/10