With sermon preparations and anxiety, the new preacher had gotten
very little sleep the week before he was to address his flock for the
first time; so by Sunday morning, he was both exhausted and extremely
nervous. Nevertheless, he managed to make it up the few steps onto the
platform and into the pulpit. However, he had barely begun his
presentation when everything he had planned to say flew right out of
his mind. In fact, his mind went totally blank. Then he remembered
that in seminary they had taught him what to do if a situation like
this ever arose:

“Repeat your last point, and let it remind you of what’s coming next.”
Figuring this advice couldn’t hurt, he recalled the very last thing
he’d said, and repeated it:

“Behold,” he quoted, “I come quickly.” Still his mind was blank. He
thought he’d better try it again: “Behold, I come quickly.” Still
nothing.

He tried it one more time – but in his panic, he pronounced the words
with such force that he lost his balance, fell forward, knocked the
pulpit to one side, tripped over a flower arrangement, and fell into
the lap of a little old lady in the front row. Flustered and
embarrassed, he picked himself up, apologized profusely, and started
to explain what had just happened.

“That’s all right, young man,” said the little old lady kindly. “It
was my fault, really. You told me three times you were on your way
down here. I should have just gotten out of your way!”