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{Straight From the Heart} *Maybe It's You* 12/4/00
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Today's story by Scott Adams, (the creator of the world famous Dilbert comic that appears in almost every newspaper in America) reminds all of us to be a "stranger" this holiday season, and the whole year round. Read on to find out just who the "stranger" really is...
My thanks to Scott Adams for sharing his wonderful story with all of us here on Straight From the Heart. This was a great way to start out our Christmas stories...
Michael
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MAYBE IT'S YOU
By Scott Adams
It was one of those cold winter nights in the Haight district of San
Francisco, the kind where the rain hurts, and your breath forms huge cotton
balls that bounce on the pavement.
I was driving an eyesore that could only be referred to as a "car" by
someone who was either a shameless liar or a good friend.
Technically, the vehicle was totalled when I bought it from an
unscrupulous neighbor, because it needed an engine overhaul that would have
cost more than the car itself. I added a quart of oil before every
journey. Most of it would leak out along the way. I tried to imagine I
was driving a huge magical snail; that way I didn't mind the slow speeds
and the slime trail it left.
The car's outer paint had transformed into a hideous mixture of rust
and "something brown." The engine sounded like a lawnmower with
tuberculosis. If anyone ever wondered what the inside of an automobile
seat looked like, my car had the answers. It was a difficult car to drive
because you had to keep your fingers and toes crossed to keep the engine
running.
That night I must have uncrossed my fingers to scratch my head. The
car died in the middle of a four-lane stretch of Oak Street. I coasted as
far as I could, hoping for a place to turn off, but the street was lined
with parked cars and the nearest intersection was beyond coasting distance.
There I sat, in busy evening traffic, no lights, no locomotion, as
tons of steel and plastic screamed by. In my rearview mirror I saw a pair
of headlights pull up and stop behind me. I knew what was coming.
Soon the horn would start and someone would be cursing at me.
In San Francisco, if you dawdle too long after a light turns green,
you get the horn. If you dare to come to a full stop at a stop sign, you
get the horn from the car behind you. I figured I was begging for trouble.
But I was wrong.
A stranger got out of the car and came to my window. He shouted, "Do
you want a push?"
I was stunned but must have nodded in the affirmative. He waived to
his car and two teens piled out to apply themselves to my bumper. When I
was safely delivered to a side street, they hopped back into their car and
rejoined the sea of anonymous traffic.
I didn't get to thank them.
Over the years I've realized something about the stranger who stopped
to help. I've noticed that every time I'm in trouble, he appears. He never
looks the same. Sometimes he's a woman. His age and ethnicity vary. But
he's always there.
I've started to understand he's the best part of what makes us human
beings. The one true thing in this world is an unasked kindness provided
by a stranger. It's the invisible cord that binds us all together and makes
life worthwhile.
This year, when you find yourself immersed in the clutter and bustle
of the holiday season, annoyed by the long lines, baffled about how you'll
get everything done, remember this:
One of the people in that crowd is the stranger. Today, maybe it's you.
Have a great holiday season, everyone.
By Scott Adams
ScottAdams@AOL.com
Email Scott and let him know what you thought of his story!
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Scott Adams is the creator and author of the renowned Dilbert comic strip,
and television show. To subscribe to the Dilbert Newsletter, visit www.dilbert.com, or send a blank e-mail to: dilbert-text-on@list.unitedmedia.com
The Dilbert Zone webpage is at:
http://www.dilbert.com
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Requests:
From: Linda.Goller@atlanticare.org (Linda Goller)
Michael.
Please add Joyce Collum to your prayer list. She just had surgery and was moved to ICU for a heart problem which was discovered after surgery unrelated to heart. This lady is my daughters Mother In Law.
***********
From: isaiah@citlink.net (Karen)
Michael,
On my way home from church choir practice tonight, I ende up having a car accident that totaled my car; the only injuries I got was getting my knee banged and skinned; it will be sore and will probably swell since I have arthritis in both knees anyway.
Thank God that I wear my seatbelt, wasn't even going the speed limit, and my little boy wasn't with me!
I hit a truck after making a right turn and my rear, driver side door swung open! I glanced back to see why I heard and felt wind blowing and the door was swinging closed! Even though I only glanced back for a second or so, it was just enough time for me to barely go over the yellow line and hit a truck! I didn't even have time to react! Please pray that my knee wont bother me bad and that I won't start having any other problems.
Blessings,
Karen
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From: Tony@jarirbookstore.com (Tony Herold)
Your articles are a great source of comfort to me. I am glad to be part of
your mailing list.
I have a prayer request for one of my colleague.
His name is Roger. He is having some problem in his legs. (Some kind of
growth). He has spend a lot on medicines etc, twice he was operated, the
problem stopped, and again it has surfaced. Doctors now say that the
previous operation was not correct, so they will have to operate again. He
is devastated. He is the earning member of his family, already he has a big
loan with the company, he doesnt know how to go ahead in this situation.
Please pray for God to heal him miracalously.
God Bless
Tony
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Thought For The Day:
"Let not the nation count wealth as wealth; let it count righteousness as wealth."
--Confucious
Verse for the Day:
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." --Psalm 33:12
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"The bad guy doesn't always wear a black hat."
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"Any child can tell you that the sole purpose of a middle name is so he can tell when he's in trouble." -- Dennis Fakes
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."
Thomas Jefferson
Deep Thought For The Day:
"I hope that after I die, people will say of me: That guy sure owed me a
lot of money."
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
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