My Brother, The Keeper

Why Life is Better When You Have an Overseer?

I Call Them eXtra-men – Part 3

Do you have that one person in your life that keeps you out of trouble or from getting into trouble?

What would it be like if you had an overseer to watch over you?  What if you had a person who’s relationship role was simply just to make sure you stayed on track?

I remember as a freshman in college, I’d visit my brother and end up in the middle of a social gathering (I guess that would have been a party).  This would have been the time I’d get to have my 1st real drink, alcoholic drink that is. My brother said “no”, you can’t do that and so he made me a simple drink.  Just stick with this. From that day to this one I left drinking alone and will occasionally have that same simple drink he made for me a couple of decades ago. It was my brother who stepped in when a door opened that could have possibly changed my life’s direction.  This experience reminded me of a movie I’d seen or at least a phrase from the movie.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?  Yes, I am” – Nino Brown

These are the famous words of Nino Brown from the early 90’s film, New Jack City.  This movie has left a lifelong imprint within me.  (I am in no way suggesting that you should go back and watch it.  What I am asking you to do is consider this phrase and how you’d answer it.)

Are you, your brother’s (sister’s) keeper or are you not interested in having this responsibility?  That’s one way to think about this question, but I have another. Do you need a brother/sister who keeps you?  Well I do and it has made a world of difference in my life and those impacted by my life. Let me share this next eXtra-man with you whom we’ll call “The Keeper.”

Having an overseer will keep you safe.
Having an overseer will keep you safe from the most dangerous person you’ll ever face, you.  This next eXtra-man, “The Keeper” I’d consider bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It’s like we’re cut from the same cloth.  For as long as I can remember, we’ve been partnered together in life. I don’t mind letting him lead me. There’s is nothing on earth that I wouldn’t do if it came from his lips to do.  He’s proven trustworthy. There is no man alive that loves me more. For most men that’s a relationship very few will ever have, if ever at all.

What “The Keeper” (let’s just say his name is Jesse) gives me is confidence, safety, and a drive to work unlike any other.  Who in your life pushes you to be unlike anyone else, uncommon? Whether he understands the job/task or not, he is all in. He is the kind of person who will push you beyond the limits of ordinary.  He doesn’t know the meaning of quitting. Standing by his side, I have the confidence needed to succeed. He is the greatest “server” I know. His gift is one of selflessness. He has had the tough job of seeing after me my entire life and has done an awesome job.  There’s not much he wouldn’t give for me. He has the skills I need to make me successful. He is the reason for every success I’ve ever had in life. X-man? No Extraordinary man and eXtra-man, “The Keeper.”

I like to think of the relationship I have with Jesse like the one Moses had with his brother Aaron.

“I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He [Aaron] will be your mouthpiece, and you [Moses] will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say.” – bible.com/116/exo.4.14-16.nlt

God will put you together with those who need you, but more  importantly those you need. You can’t be great until you meet the persons’ assigned to you.  Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes, I am. We all need to say this if we want to live extra-ordinary lives and have extraordinary relationships.  We need each other and we need to define the roles others play in our lives so that they can perform the function you need and they need from you to take you to the place God wants you to go, like Moses and Aaron.

Until next week, be sure to pass this web-post along to your friends.  I have another eXtra-man prepared for you next week; can’t wait.

[note note_color=”#E3EAEE” text_color=”#060A09″] [/note]