Brick !

About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.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 child darted out, but a brick sailed out and - WHUMP! - it smashed Into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH..!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"

"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."

Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE -a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. 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. . . Some bricks are softer than others. Feel for the bricks of life coming at to you. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answers.

How To Speak The Truth

There was a benevolent king and as normal human he had weakness for astrologers and their sooth saying. In the kingdom there was a good Brahmin highly learned in astrology and had mastered the subject of different ancient masters in the subject. But he normally does not predict for others. Hearing of his depth of knowledge, the king called him to palace. He was offered a good place to stay in and extended all the facilities. The king gave a copy of his horoscope and asked him to review and tell him the findings.

On the review it was clear to the Brahmin that the king shall loose all his close relatives and friends and shall be lonely during his last days. As the Brahmin is determined to tell the truth always he bluntly told the truth. “Oh, My Respectful King you are destined to loose all your close relatives and friends and shall be lonely during your last days”. These words angered the king who immediately ordered him to go out of his kingdom. The Brahmin was very much upset.

Taking pity on him the minister asked him why he predicted so. He replied that I have followed the Dictum of Vedas- “Satayam Vadha” “TELL TRUTH”. He advised the Brahmin to follow the orders of the king and present himself after about a year growing beard and with some facial lift. He may then offer to predict again. But the Brahmin insisted to tell the truth only then too. To that the minister brought forth another dictum of Vedas- Jigwah madu mathhthama”- LET MY TONGUE BE HONEYED”.

The Brahmin reappeared after a long time and as advised by the minister with the facial lift and beard etc not easily recognizable. He offered king to give astrological counsel, to which the king readily agreed.The Brahmin exclaimed “Oh, My Respectful King, you have a very long life, and till your end you shall be a prosperous king. Your life time is so long you shall out live all you close relatives and friends.” This pleased the king greatly who awarded him generously and honored him. After all the predictions were same but put up so beautifully, and coated with honey.

Hence we pray “LET THE TONGUE BE HONEYED”