Stop the World I Want To Get Off

By Marty Norman –

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Sometimes I think the world is spinning so fast that at any moment I am in danger of being slung into outer space as centrifugal force lets go of the physical properties that keep me hanging on for dear life. At least that’s how the world hits me most of the time especially in May and December.

As I sit down to write this article I am reminded that God continually tells us to be still and know that He is God.  It’s in the quiet moments, in the silence that we hear the whisper of God. If we drive through life racing down the street, the radio blaring, we are more than likely going to miss his wisdom and guidance as he whispers in our ear.

The story “The Brick” is a great example of this principal. Recently sent to me by a friend I decided that I would print it, for I couldn’t have said it better myself. I think in this short reading you will definitely get the point. The question is, is this you? It certainly is me a lot of the time.

The Brick, Author Unknown 

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 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. I threw the brick because no one else would stop.”

With tears dripping down his face, 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 for words, the man 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 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.

What a great message and reminder. For God is in the business of whispering in our souls and speaking to our hearts. Sometimes when we don’t have time to listen, he has to throw a brick at us to get our attention. What’s important is that it’s our choice to listen or not to listen.

I think of the words that my grandmother used to say to me when I got so busy I wouldn’t slow down. “My dear, surely you know that God is always trying to get our attention. First he whispers in our ear, then he taps on our shoulder. If we don’t slow down he throws a brick at us. If this doesn’t work he hits us up beside the head.”

I’ve been in all four places. And I know you have too. Wouldn’t it be easier to stop and listen the first time than to have to go through all that pain and worry.

The moral of the story: Stop, look and listen. If we would but slow our cars down, better yet if we would park them on the side of the road, we might learn how to look at the world through God’s eyes. If we stay extremely still, we’ll be able to listen with God’s ears.

If you don’t, don’t be surprised when a brick comes out of nowhere and hits you on your head or your car on the side as you speed through life.