The Brick That Hit Me

The Brick That Hit Me
Tommy (Apr 2003)

Last Saturday afternoon, I felt like a brick had hit me in my bald, slick-willy, and shiny head!
Here's why: Last Sat afternoon, I was transporting Karen (my sweetheart)
back to the DC airport. After arriving at the terminal, I got out my vehicle to
help Karen with her luggage. I carried her luggage across the street...literally about
30 feet...kissed her goodbye...immediately went back to my car...a total time of about
20 seconds. As I approached my black Mercedes, an airport rent-a-cop was
standing there grinning and writing me a ticket...and snickering under his garlic breath and greased, slick hair.

He asked, "Boy, are you the owner of this vehicle?"
I responded, "No, I actually stole this vehicle just to joy ride in...and fool all of you crazy rent-a-cops!" NOT!
No, I really responded with, "Yes, it is my vehicle. I have only been here a few
seconds."

Rent-A-Cop: "Well, boy...I don’t like your attitude. I'm gonna have to write you up."

Tommy, the Calm One: "Why?"

Rent-A-Cop: "Because I don't like you!" NOT!

Rent-A-Cop (Actual Response): "Because you got out of your vehicle...That's
one ticket. I am also going to write you another one for leaving your engine running
while unattended."

Tommy, the Calm One: "Listen, you know I was here for less than a minute. You had to have seen me. What was I to do? I assisted my sweetheart.”

Rent-A-Cop: "I don’t give a damn about you or your sweetheart. I saw you. I was ready for you. You should have used the Rent-A-Red Cap luggage man. That's what he is here for. Why didn’t you use him?”

The Rent-A-Cop then presented me with a gift of two $40 dollar tickets ($80.00).

If looks could kill, that Rent-A-Cop would have hit the ground dead as a door nail within three seconds. I bit my tongue until it bled. I rubbed my head until it
was bald and slick. I rolled my eyes around until I was too dizzy to drive. I moaned and groaned underneath my breath. My face turned red, then purple! I coughed. I
gagged! I puked!

I had to grab both hands and hold them down...to keep from showing him (with
my middle finger) what his IQ was. I wanted to punch this guy in the face. He was rude. He was crude. He was asinine. Needless to say, I had to go to church
the next day (Easter) and say some "Hail Mary's", count some beads as I
prayed for this man (Rent-A-Cop)...so that he would NOT immediately go to
hell. I also had to get forgiveness from the Master Teacher.

My prayer went something like this:

"Now, Father, you know I am a relatively good person, especially compared to Saddam Hussein. I give to the poor...those people that are in need…and some that won't work! Yeah, I kick some rear-ends every now in then, but it has to be
done. As a trained combat killer, I normally mind my own business...well...most of the time. I gotta tell You, God...I am really mad as &^%$#@ (hell) right now. This guy was a total nincompoop, weasel, and donut hole. I know I must find it somewhere in my gentler and kind heart to forgive this &^%$#@ (clown).
Okay. I forgive him. But Lord, I must tell you how I feel about this idiot. I would like to ring his neck!
I would love to do some skid marks on his greasy, slick head or back side right now...with my black Mercedes Benz. Okay, Okay. I'm sorry, but these are my thoughts.
Forgive me for feeling this way! Okay, I know I have to...l o v e... everybody...even garlic breath and weasel head individuals.
I'm not like Your Son yet. I wish I was, but I haven't arrived at that state of
perfection yet. I'm still human...and very much alive and passionate with emotions and feelings. But I am working on it...especially my attitude.
Right now, it stinks when it comes to loving Rent-A-Cops. But I will try.
Forgive me Lord. Okay...I will say it. I love this nincompoop...rascal...clown...Okay, Okay...professional airport prickly pear...I mean policeman. Help me Lord. I need help! Thanks for listening and for Your patience with me!
Hello! I don't want to go to hell because I was there for a short time this
past Saturday. Goodbye for now. I love you, Lord!"

God's Response to me: "Son, you have a right to be upset. This creation
(policeman) of mine that wrote you two tickets is NOT perfect either. He makes mistakes like you do. He gets angry like you do. He thinks. He lives. He breathes
like you do. Sometimes, justice on this earth is almost non-existent, but
there is coming a time when My Justice will prevail over the entire earth...the whole universe. Remember, my son...I gave you the money to pay the fines. I have given you a heart to forgive and to love. As you find it in your heart to forgive this man, I also will forgive you. I love you...Your Father."

Don't make God throw a Brick! Read on…I heard this Story the other day…

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!"

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.

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning. Face it, my beloved friend - He is crazy about you!