Food for Thought

Beware of Garbage Trucks

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, a rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly one can get back their focus on what's important. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

Here's what happened: I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was friendly! So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did."

So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."

I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here's my bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ~
Love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, TAKE IT!
If it changes your life, LET IT!

Nobody said it would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it!

~ Anonymous
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This story was such a blessing to me - deja vue all over again! :)

Back in 1979 when I became the Administrator of Liberty Christian School one of the new teachers asked me what I told people if they asked about a "job description" for my position. I told her I was a the school's official garbage man. Rather nonplussed, she wrinkled her brow and asked what I meant by that. I smiled and said, "Whenever you have a problem of any kind that causes you concern, anxiety or stress, feel free to come to my office and dump it all on me. I will pray with you, bless you, stand with you through any trial, and I promise I will take the "garbage" component of the problem and "dump it on Jesus." That way you can go back to the classroom or to your parent conference or to you teacher's meeting "unburdened, clean and fresh, and blessed!"

Isn't it wonderful that our Lord never sees us as garbage! He always helps us divest ourselves of the the dirt, sin, fears and concerns of this life. In return, He gives us hope, joy, peace, strength, confidence, courage, goodness, gentleness, patience and lots of LOVE!

Thank you, Father! Teach all of your children to come to You as quickly as ever we are able to do, as often as we need to, to dump all of the garbage of our lives. We will be ever grateful to You for Your loving provision with which You lavish us according to all of Your riches in glory in and through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.