Two Trash Collectors
This morning I immediately jumped out of bed after my sleep was interrupted by what I thought was a single ring of our doorbell. When I opened the door, there was no one there, so I went back upstairs. Soon after, I heard the alarm of a car, and when it stopped, I thought it was one of my neighbor's cars. When I looked out the window, I saw two trash men beside their truck pointing to my door, but since I could not figure out what they were saying, I went down again and opened the door. They also pointed to the driveway. That was when I understood. They had seen my bunch of keys on my driveway and hung it on my door! It was they who pressed my car key to sound its alarm, rang my doorbell, and hung my keys on my door. I thanked the garbage men profusely and waved showing appreciation. They waved back, boarded the step behind their truck and the truck roared away to its next stop. I could sense the men felt happy about the good deed they had done for me that early morning. I then remembered that the keys had fallen on my driveway when I was taking out the trash bins to the curb the previous evening. And I shuddered to think what could have happened had another person with not so good intentions found and got my bunch of keys which included my car key and my house keys!
Garbage collection trucks rarely stay more than half a minute at each stop. The men who pick up and empty the huge household bins into their trucks are extremely efficient and time-conscious so they could finish their rounds fast.
At the present time when everyone is in a hurry doing their own thing amid the hustle and bustle of daily existence, it is comforting to know that there are still people who can tarry and go out of their way to do little things to help others. And these "little things" can actually mean so much more to their recipients.
To me that early morning act of kindness I received from people that I knew only as trash collectors was a moment of grace telling me that the intellectual knowledge of the Gospel teaching of love of others is not enough, but it should be exercised in concrete actions, however small or insignificant they may be.
The Incarnate Son of God did not only preach it. He proved it, to the extent of sacrificing His life!
We are asked to do much less for those He offered that sacrifice!#
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrew 13:16)
