A PICK UP THAT DIDN’T GO WELL

Do you ever have a day when everything just seems to register “zero, not good, get your act together?”   My husband and I had moved into a home that was, shall we say, neglected beyond belief, both inside and out.   My attempts at clearing the outside extended way beyond what I anticipated.  On this day I had just finished bagging 48 large disposable waste bags of yard clippings, leaves and tree trimmings and the temperature of my patience was nearing minus 10 degrees.  Exhaustion was painted all over my body; but, I had completed the clearing and pick up.

Being new to this neighborhood I inquired from my neighbor about the procedure for the city pick up of our yard waste bin, plus how to dispose of these bags.   My neighbor told me that the city would pick up three or four of these yard waste bags each week if they were placed next to the large waste bin provided.  

It was Monday morning and I had proudly placed about four of these bags snuggly next to the large container.   Our little dog began to bark consistently and I knew that her prancing back and forth at the front door was indication that the Sanitation Engineer assigned to our area was soon to arrive.

Yep, here he comes, the loud mechanical noise lifting the bins and moving from house to house singing in the air.   I’ve always shared goodies with our “garbage guy” to show appreciation for their efforts and efficiency in trash removal.  This would be our first meeting “at the can location” and I was so pleased with myself at my orderly arrangement of all the bags, and I felt the young man would also be duly impressed with my neat laid out array of trash for pick up.

I was armed with a big smile, anticipating a congenial introduction.  Now here is where the event goes awry.

It was readily apparent by the young man’s facial expression that it wasn’t a happy one.  He immediately invoked corrective action on his route.

My placement of the rubbish bags was too close to the large bin; and  because of COVID, I was informed that the city was not picking up the paper garbage bags.   All this discourse on his “trash rules and regulations” was blurted out in my direction and with the “not a happy attitude” city employee.

To continue his mean-spirited approach, he hoisted up the arms of his truck and in picking up the bin; ripped a gash in a bag of tree limbs and leaves.   Yes, you can picture that all of this was spewing out of the bag.   He released the bin and pulled away.   The smugness of his look and action was very hurtful.

My neighbor saw what occurred and came over to encourage me.  Once I related my details of the event, she returned home.   About an hour later this same truck appeared again to remove the rubbish from the other side of the street.  My “defense lawyer” (my neighbor) was waiting for the driver.  She spent about ten minutes in “trash conversation” with the garbage collector, the content of which she shared with me later.  

She informed me that she told the driver how inconsiderate he was to me, especially since I was new to the area and was only trying to follow the rules.

Needless-to-say, this wasn’t a good morning for me.  My feelings were hurt, not to mention I was anticipating “nice introduction.”  Humanly speaking, he was about to be crossed off my “treats for the garbage guy list.”  Now it was time to have a chat with the Lord about the verbal confrontation.

Yes, I received my “Divine instructions” and the pathway to mending was plain and simple.   Only put out the appropriate bin and hold off on those 48 bags of yard waste for a few months.

A week had passed and I was “ready and waiting” for the sound of his approach.   To be honest here, my tummy was churning, but I was going to pour out the “kindness barrel” as best I could.   I hadn’t premeditated what I was going to say, but just trusted that if my heart was in the right place, God would fill my mouth with the right words that needed to be delivered.

Here he comes now!   I approached the driveway, where the bin was placed, and as he pulled up, I said, “Did I put everything out okay this time?”   My jaw dropped as I viewed a smile that appeared on his face.  “Yep, you did it right.”  Then he proceeded to tell me why he couldn’t pick up the yard waste in the thick paper bags for a few months.

I thanked him and I thought that would be the wrap up of our conversation.  He paused and said, that he would soon return to empty the garbage on the opposite side of the street.  If I could handle it, he told me to empty one of those paper bags into my bin and roll it across the street and he would empty it for me.  Those bags can be very heavy.  I was informed that I needed to load the yard waste into the bin myself…..as he was “never” to touch a bag, but only use the truck’s pick up mechanism to collect any trash.

What???   I couldn’t believe what came out of his mouth.  About an hour had passed and I perched myself outside in anticipation of his arrival in the big blue truck.  Sure enough, an hour later, he appeared.  This time I was ready with a can of Pepsi in my hand.  His arrival was more pleasant this time.  Perhaps he saw the Pepsi can in my hand as he made his way around the corner of the street.  As he pulled into position, I handed him the can of refreshment as his eyes sparkled and a great big grin appeared on his face.

As he took hold of the Pepsi can as I was attempting to place the second bag of yard waste into the bin when the bin tipped over and all the yard waste went all over the street.   It was just too heavy to get a firm grip on it.

So what would any woman do at this point? I politely told him that he could just move on to the neighbor’s bin, and that I would spend the next few minutes “cleaning the street” from my yard waste.   I knew this would be my next assignment as he had to remain in his truck…per the City’s bylaws. 

At this point, I almost began to cry, but that wouldn’t solve anything.  So I quickly began the clean-up operation.  To my shock and surprise, the door to his cab opened and out he popped.  He began helping me tidy up the street from all the tree clippings that had been stored in this supposedly heavy-duty bag.  

Profuse “thank you’s” exited my lips.  He just smiled and said, “Don’t tell anyone I’m doing this, as I’m not supposed to touch the trash.”

Within about two minutes, the street was cleared, and in the bin and up and over into his truck it went.  He knew I was grateful, and a huge smile from him appeared in the rear view mirror as he drove off.

So perhaps you’re wondering if God is interested and desires to be involved in our “tiny trials.”  The answer is a resounding “YES;” because He longs that we see Him at work in our daily duties and regular routines.  I serve a BIG GOD……who cares to be involved in every aspect of my life and in yours, if we but give Him the opportunity.

And yes, my Sanitation Engineer will become part of my baking routine each week.  He needs to know that in this busy, occupied world, that what “he” does is important, and that it makes a difference in the lives of many people.

Is your “garbage guy” or your personal “sanitation engineer” aware of your appreciation for his or her efforts?