TRASHY PEOPLE!

 Yesterday was garbage collection day in the hood.  All of the different forms of garbage are collected on the same day each week----three bins.  It takes 3 different trucks to collect the three bins---recycle, yard waste (those things which will decompose) and plain old garbage.  Living in the big city allows this expeditious garbage collection---though it takes the entire day for everything to be picked up.    All of those years in Ruston (when I was in the city limits) there was garbage day and a different day for recycle.  SIDENOTE---MY RUSTON FRIENDS WILL FIND IT INTERESTING THAT EVEN IN A CITY THE SIZE OF FORT WORTH THERE IS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT ARE THEY REALLY RECYCLING OR JUST THROWING IT ALL IN THE SAME PLACE.  I prefer dealing with all of my garbage on the one day and not having to think of garbage again until the next week.

We have come a long way since the days of my youth.  Another story I have told you before is about having a burn barrel (old oil drum) in which we would daily burn our garbage and the ashes were collected periodically (I don't remember how often) when I was growing up.  If you recall the story, I told the possums would get into the barrel and when I would take the garbage out to burn they would snarl up at me.  This led to me throwing garbage all over the place while screaming and later being sent to pick it up.  WHERE AM I GOING?  Man has a propensity to create garbage.  At some point in the past, it occurred to the authorities who rule that the garbage brought rats and other vermin who spread disease.  It would lead to better health for the masses if the garbage was dealt with.  Thus the birth of the garbage collection system which has evolved into the description above.  I must say, we are much better at our collection system--someone finally realized we would be someday be overrun if we did not come up with a better plan.  ESPECIALLY for those items which take thousands of years to decompose.  I always feel like a better citizen when I buy something made from recycled goods!

Since the early days after creation, man has struggled with a garbage problem.  In the earliest of days everything would finally decompose since everything was made from decomposable (God made) materials.  When man became involved in the production process and man made goods were available, the garbage problem began its slow and steady increase.  Today we are faced with a huge problem--we are a consumer society now and most consumable goods seem to be disposable---to a degree.  There is a colossal industry all for the disposing of our garbage.

I am certain you see where I am headed---sin.  Sin is the definitive garbage and like today's man made goods--not often easily disposed of.  Some sin lasts generation after generation with little hope for dealing with it.  BUT GOD---He is in the BIG business of forgiveness and forgetting.  He is a virtual master at disposing of our sin--but we have to be wiling to put it in the can and stick it on the curb.  He will do the rest. 

"For I will forgive their inequity,

and I will remember their sin no more."

Jeremiah 31:34