Comment on 'Beware of Garbage Trucks'
I found a post on Vlad Mazek's weblog that he attributed to Andy Goodman. Andy got it from an email.I found the actual author, David Pollay, from a quick Google. I always like to do a search for something like this, because most things that are this well written usually come from someone professional, so here is the link to the full 'Law of the Garbage Truck' article on the author's weblog. Now go read it before going on.
The real purpose of this was not to give a lesson in proper author attribution, but rather to add a little to David's 'Law of the Garbage Truck' - sort of a corollary for folks who are Christians. In a world where there is no Good News, David's law is great! It give people a way of living life without becoming mired in other people's bad moods. What a powerful sentiment, and it is a great explanation for why a lot of successful people don't go around in a sour mood all the time.
But that's not enough, at least for me. As Christians, we certainly have an amazing thing to be happy about. God's grace, provided to us through the sacrifice of Jesus, is wonderful, and is more than enough to make us happy or keep us from remaining in a bad mood. But Jesus called us to do more than simply be of good cheer every day.
I think each of the Garbage Truck's that David mentions is a person in need of God's grace and love. Not necessarily in the form of evangelism, because not all of those people are in a place where they can even think about hearing about Jesus - some of them may already even think they know about or follow Jesus. But no matter how ill tempered or mean they seem to us at the time we encounter them, they are a child of God - someone whom God loves, and also our neighbor, whom Jesus reminded us we are to love as much as ourselves.
As Christians, I also believe we are called to follow Jesus' example in how he dealt with others. He traveled among the people that those of his time found least desirable. He instructed us to offer our other cheek when we are struck in anger. In short, I believe he calls us to have a real and sincere desire to have empathy with and love for everyone we meet. We should seek to know that that person in front of us may be having one of the worst days of their life, and that there may be some reason they are a walking Garbage Truck. And if possible, we should seek to brighten their day in some way, either with a smile or even a prayer on their behalf.
That's the corollary and difference to the rule for us Christians. David's 'Law of the Garbage Truck' is a great way to personally avoid being in a bad mood, but it doesn't provide a way that we can be in community with and show love for that person we encounter. As Christians, that is exactly what we are called to do.
So as a Christian, the next time you encounter a Garbage Truck remember that the source of your ability to not let them dump on you is your knowledge that you have been given the gift of God's grace and love through Jesus Christ. Say a prayer for that child of God that looks like a Garbage Truck to you and try to see them as Jesus would. And know that the smile and wave that you give them is a true attempt to be in community with them and to share the love of God through Jesus Christ with them.
A suggested prayer: God, help me to be a source of your light and love in the world. Use me as a vessel to accept the garbage of others and return to them in its place your love. Bless each person I come in contact with today - lighten their load, quicken their step, and encourage their heart. In Jesus' name. AMEN.
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