Piles of Junk

[Chad]

Piles of Junk - March 12, 2007

Romans 12:20 Don't judge and you will not be judged

The Toyota truck pulled directly in front of us as we drove down the freeway. As I looked at the pile of waste in the bed of the truck, I thought,"What a pile of junk that is!" There were bent and broken bicycles galore and assorted other metal items which I could not distinguish . I thought, where in the world did that driver get all that stuff and what would he ever do with it? I was just hoping nothing would fall out of the back of the truck onto the hood of our car !

I concluded the driver of the truck was a junk dealer and would be selling it to someone for scrap metal. I then asked my husband what he thought would be done with those ruined and useless bikes. His answer put a entirely new perspective on the situation. He said perhaps the driver would repair those bikes and distribute them to underprivileged children, or perhaps the driver was an artist and would use the metal scraps for unusual and beautiful sculptures.

I thought about how I had jumped to one conclusion about the future use of that "stuff" in the truck, while my husband had an entirely different perspective about the situation .

Do I look at people in the same way I looked at the debris in the truck? If someone's life is loaded down with things that I deem worthless, such as strange clothing, weird hairdo's, an excess amount of time spent on their home or other inanimate objects, or perhaps more jewelry than any one person could possibly wear, do I decided these folks are ready for the spiritual junk pile simply because looks can be deceiving? I am afraid I realized today that this is too close to the truth to suit me. God, forgive me for drawing wrong conclusions so many times. Help me to remember Jimmie's reply about the junk on the truck. He saw positive possibilities in that truck before us, and I would like to have that attitude about people. I cannot do it unless the Holy Spirit empowers me.How about you?

Contributed by Marion Smith: [email protected] Comments/Feedback are welcome.

 

[Dreamer]

That is a lovely story!

It is really true, too. Appearances can be deceiving. Someone who appears to be doing something "scrappy" could possibly be helping others.

I knew a man from my church who this story greatly reminded me of. He was married to a school teacher and was highly educated himself. In his life, he did a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and friends called him a "jack of all trades". He also loved to discuss intellectual issues and it just so happens he loved the Lord a lot!

One of his favorite hobbies was picking up or buying old bicycles and fixing them. Sometimes he just took them apart and used the good parts to replace in other bikes that needed the parts.

I was a single mom when I lived in that town where that man and his wife lived. He saw that I had bought a new bike for my daughter but that I didn't have one. He fixed up an old red bike, put new parts in it, and told me to stop over at his house one day.

When I got there, I had no idea what he wanted. There was a bike parked there, quite nice looking. I said, "How much do you want for it?"

He said, "Nothing. It's yours. I want you to be able to ride bikes with your little girl. Try it out and see if it fits."

It did.

At this man's funeral, a song was played about fixing bicycles. I cried. This man's life was complex, beautiful and full of love. He left a legacy of love behind, and old mangled up bicycles were included in this legacy.

 

[Snowrose]

Hello Chad,

Thank you so much for sharing this article. It really spoke in volumes as well as the truth.

Do I look at people in the same way I looked at the debris in the truck? If someone's life is loaded down with things that I deem worthless, such as strange clothing, weird hairdo's, an excess amount of time spent on their home or other inanimate objects, or perhaps more jewelry than any one person could possibly wear, do I decided these folks are ready for the spiritual junk pile simply because looks can be deceiving?

The above quote really stood out for me only because I am at this moment studying "Sociology". There is a term called "Labelling". The chapter I was reading was on Deviance and Crime. Labelling is a word or phrase used to describe a person. When we label a person, there can be repercussions that comes with it. If we call a person a label long enough (for instance "deviant"), they may eventually accept that new identity and continue its behaviour.

In James 3: 9-11 it says: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" How can we be lights for Jesus Christ if we can not control our tongues enough to speak kindly and lovingly to other human beings?

This is my hope and prayer is that we can see through Christ's eyes and love as He has loved us.

Best wishes,
Debbie

 

[thomasb41]

so true

the bible talks about do not judge less ye be judged