by When we were kids, if there was someone we didn’t like, we would give that person , THE BRUSH-OFF! This means, they didn’t fit into our group and we tried to avoid them. It wasn’t nice but often, little children can be unkind.
Today, however, it is O.K. to do the , “Brush-off”. This activity won’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
Stunt:
This stunt requires a coin and a hairbrush with natural bristles not plastic ones.
Say: “There are certain things that are easy for some people to do but hard for others.”
Do: Place a coin on your fingers.
Say: “It seems easy to brush a coin off your hand, but only some people can do it.”
Do: As you say this, place a brush on the coin. Then, quickly lower your hand about six inches and at the same time brush the coin off. (Practice this in front of a mirror, so your hand movement is not noticeable.)
Now pick up the coin and lay it on your palm. Give the brush to your friend.
Say: “Your turn!”
Keep your hand still while your friend brushes…the coin won’t move an inch!
Say: The lesson of this stunt is perfectly clear. Things are not what they seem. New people to your neighborhood or group of friends may seem to look different. Their language may sound unusual and they may eat different foods or wear unusual clothes. They appear different but they are just people. They need friends, too.
Have you ever thought someone was very different and they turned out to be a whole lot more fun than you ever imagined? In California, we have a tremendous variety of people from different countries that are neighbors. Early in the morning, when I hike the hills, I often see people with grumpy faces. I make it a habit to wake them up with a friendly greeting. People that seem angry or have a permanent frown on their faces light up with joy when they see someone cares about them. It amazes me how a smile or an act of kindness can change how we feel towards someone and we can instantly make a new friend.
I remember when I was sailing off the coast of Catalina Island, I anchored my sailboat next to a weathered fishing boat. I saw the couple inside who were cleaning the fish they just caught. They ignored me. They wanted to be private. I invaded their space.
I made matters worse. I anchored too closely next to their boat and they gave me , “the brush-off”. I was given a really angry look from both of them. I got the point.
Instantly, I started the engine and shifted my position so that we could be a safe distance apart. Later, I made some warm bread and took it over to them in my shore boat. They were so pleased, they invited me aboard. We traded. I got fresh, clean cooked tuna for my partner and they got home made bread. We have been friends ever since.
Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever thought someone was mean and nasty and they turned out to be very friendly? Did you ever give a gift to someone who may have been angry at you?
This story-joke is about an old, beat-up fire truck and some rusty, dusty, retired folk who who got the, “brush-off” but saved the day:
A fire started on some grasslands near a farm. The county fire department was called to put out the fire, but it was more than they could handle. Someone suggested calling in the nearby volunteer firefighting crew. Nobody knew if the vounteers would be of any help but they called them anyway.
The volunteers arrived in a beat-up old fire truck. They rumbled straight toward the fire, drove right into the middle of the flames, and stopped!
The volunteer firemen jumped off the truck and started frantically spraying water in all directions. Soon, they had snuffed out the center of the fire, breaking the blaze into two smaller parts that they then easily put out.
Watching all this, the farmer was so impressed with the volunteer fire department’s work and was so grateful that his farm was spared, he presented the volunteers with a check for $1,000.00. A local news reporter asked the fire captain what the department planned to do with the funds.
“That should be obvious,” he replied, wiping ashes off his coat. “The first thing we’re going top do is get the brakes fixed on our fire truck!”
Scripture Application:
1 Cor. l3. 1-8
Boundaries:
Romans 2: 1-11
