When Tuesday arrives in The Woodlands, Texas that can only mean one thing in my neighborhood!
It’s TRASH DAY!!!
The routine is the same week in and week out. People put all their trash in these wonderful, large, green trash cans with green lids (they even have wheels!!!) and place them by the curb. If we have any recyclable trash we put those items in these large, wonderful green trash cans (with wheels) that have “yellow” lids.

The “trash man” driving a green truck drives right up next to our trash can, an electronic arm comes out and hugs the large, green trash cans (with wheels) and hoists it over the side of the truck and dumps out the contents. In one fluid motion the large green trash can (with wheels) is gently placed back to it original location. A very smooth, simple and slick operation in dealing with our trash. No comments. No judgment. No comparison to other people’s trash. One fluid motion and my trash is gone!
I love TRASH DAY!
SeeingGodatWorkEveryDay…
Except this past Tuesday, something totally out of the ordinary routine took place. If I hadn’t been outside watching this take place firsthand, I wouldn’t have believe a word of it.
Trash cans line the curb (see photo above) awaiting the hug of an electronic arm (the only hug these cans get all week!!).
But, the other day there was a man in gray coveralls walking ahead of the truck. His gray beard matched his gray coveralls and his stern look was quite the opposite of what these trash cans with wheels were used to.
He approached  each can with a disgusted look and with much force ripped open each can, tossing back the lid of each can with such force that each can teetered and tottered!
The walking trash man leaned in and over and started sorting through the trash. With no regard for any environmental concerns he started throwing trash over each neighbor’s respective lawn.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. As I looked down the street from whence this walking trash man came all the freshly mowed lawns were literally littered with trash!
When he got to my house, I quickly stepped outside to stop this barrage of garbage flinging!
“Hey! What are you doing?” was my loud call.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” was his sarcastic reply.
I was stunned, silent and steaming! My attempt at dialogue was met with contempt, anger and disregard.
After about ten minutes of this ridiculousness, he moved on to the next house to continue the carnage.
He basically told me that he was sorting through the trash and deciding which trash was acceptable and which trash was unacceptable. Trash that was not acceptable was quickly thrown back on the lawn for the respective owner to deal with. As I looked at my own trash on my own front lawn and compared it to my neighbor’s trash there didn’t seem to be any real method to his madness…
I made my way back into the house shaking my head (SMH!), bewildered by such an act. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to see such a sight…
As you have figured out by now, this did not really happen. Can you imagine if it really did!!!? Wow!
The point of this parable is this…
We have a trash man whose name is Jesus.
Not just on Tuesday, but rather on every day of the week that ends in “Y”, the Trash Man comes to the home of our hearts and empties the trash.
Here is the marvelous news!
Jesus’ loving arms hug our trash cans and empties the trash can of our sins, our faults, our mistakes, our mess ups.
He does not sort out what trash is acceptable and which trash is not acceptable.
He does not question what is in our cans.
He does not accuse.
He does not scowl.
He does not compare my trash with yours or yours with mine.
He simply takes that which we offer and disposes of it and remembers it no more.
Whether your trash can has wheels or no wheels (mine has four wheels!), Jesus gently removes the trash without trashing the can.
My only word of advice for today would be…
“Hey, hey, hey, put our your can!
Here comes the TRASH MAN!”
It’s not every day that someone offers to empty the trash can of our sins, much less someone who empties our trash every day. In Jesus, the Trash Man we find both!
I love TRASH DAY!!
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1: 9 ESV)
SeeingGodatWorkEveryday…
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
David@seeinggodatworkeveryday.com