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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: REFLECTION (10/10/19)
It was a warm day and Jennifer went for her regular one mile walk around the neighborhood.
"Thank God, it is not too hot. I am so happy!" She enjoyed the freedom of exercise; except for the garbage. On the grass verges lay multiple items. Empty aluminum beer cans, plastic water bottles, food wraps, snack packages and old used papers and fabric strips.

They were all throwaways. In her mind she could see the hands that threw them away - out of car and van windows. In unspoken gestures ‘the throwers’ were saying “I don’t need you anyway!. You are garbage; useless to me!”

Western cultures have sought many ways to control the sidewalk waste by providing garbage bins in public places. The ‘throwers’ did not use bins; maybe they did not care what their streets looked like nor what they smelt like. However, Jennifer cared and she found that the garbage annoyed her.

“Was this her assignment?” she pondered.
The voice in her head was gentle.
“Yes Lord. I will go clean up the grass verges today.”

It took her about half an hour to do the job. Wearing gloves and armed with a grabber and five empty shopping bags, she went along for about half a mile filling the bags. She walked home and threw them into her garbage bins. Now, she too was saying “I don’t need you!”

Later in the day, an interesting thought occurred to her;
“what did Jesus do with those that were called garbage in His culture?” He came from pure, clean and Holy Heaven to an earth that was littered with flawed and discarded humans. Many people were undesirables and unwanted by the ‘holy’ and law-abiding pharisees, scribes and high priests. Cultural ‘throwaways’ like Mary Magdalene, lepers, Lazarus, tax collectors like Zacheus and prostitutes existed. The demon possessed and graveyard dwellers were also among them.

Jesus, The Sinless Son of God was well able to redeem and heal the people considered garbage and throwaways. He associated with them, healed and loved them. He removed them from the ‘filthy’ and set them on the path to their God ordained destiny.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction,Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s". {Psalm 103:3-5 {NIV}.



He saved them from destruction; in particular, He reached down for Mary Magdalene. He removed her from the garbage dump of adultery. No longer condemned, she was free.

"When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”. “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” {John 8:7-11 {NIV}.
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This article has been read 642 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Barbara Culler 
10/19/19
If only more of us were willing to clean up the walkways!
LaVonne Wood
10/19/19
Unfortunately, many well to do people look down on those who do the dirty jobs. If they saw them as equal in value,as Jesus does, they wouldn't throw away trash on the ground.
Thanks for sharing!
C D Swanson 
10/20/19
This is wonderful writing, and a very good message here.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings~
Arlene Baker
10/21/19
What I like most is that the MC was willing to go to the LORD for instruction. Cleaning up garbage is just as much a ministry as the more traditional forms.
Marlene Custer 
10/21/19
I have picked up roadside trash and wondered, too, how people could throw stuff out so carelessly. A good reminder to be careful we don’t treat people in such a careless way.