OK, I’ll come out and admit it.
I have a fixation with rubbish bins (or trash cans if you’re a US reader).
If you don’t believe me, note that this is my second blog post on the topic.
I kind of enjoy watching the garbage trucks shuffle and roar through the streets every week, systematically stopping at each house to scoop up the red, yellow or green leftovers of our lives.
I think about the humility it might require to do a job like this. To dutifully rise early in the morning, routinely handle other people’s junk, and willingly intervene when rubbish has fallen by the wayside.
I find it fascinating to watch the trucks taking care of a week’s worth of castaways from each and every house – unwanted items that we, as wealthy Westerners, cavalierly cast off our shoulders.
Every week we can choose to be free of our burdens, in a sense.
If only the issues of our emotional lives could be handled that simply…
If only we had a garbage man to drive over and take care of a week’s worth of worries, a week’s worth of struggles, a week’s worth of dirt and mess and shame…
Or perhaps a year’s worth… or a decade’s…
If only someone could set us free from all the guilt, the regret and haunting memories… and the bitterness we sometimes carry.
I reflect on this…
And then I consider Jesus.
I ponder the freedom, the grace, the mercy, the cleansing, the healing my Saviour offers.
He gently lifts the rubbish off our stooped shoulders and puts it on his own.
He already did that, actually, on the cross.
Isaiah 53:2- speaks of the humility of Jesus in taking on our ‘stuff’:
He (Jesus) was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity (sin) of us all.
Each and every one of us has the opportunity to lay our sin on his shoulders.
We don’t have to bear it anymore.
In Christ we, the sheep, find forgiveness, redemption and freedom.
In one humble, sacrificial act, Jesus scooped up the rubbishy remains of our bad choices – and those of others – and took them on himself.
And he cleansed us, once and for all, by his blood.
Then he rose from the dead to show that he is God.
God did this for us…
May each and every one of us live our lives in recognition that the garbage removal job has already been done. All we need to do is believe in Jesus and ask for his forgiveness. And then… life really begins for the first time.
We have reason to celebrate.
The bin is empty, once and for all.
It's a God thing... 
He gently lifts the rubbish off our shoulders and puts it on his own… This. Line. — Just this morning, Ali, during my time with Dad — after much prayer and reading, confessing and His revealing — I suddenly felt exhausted (after a solid 7 hours of sleep! and awaking refreshed) and it was then I realized I had just LET HIM take something from me that I had long carried. And in Him removing the burden from my shoulders I was tired…from a life time of holding onto something and in the process exhausting and draining myself. Thanks for another great post. Love reading your words. Glad we are friends 🙂 ❤
Oh Sheila, I’m so glad you were able to come to that point of realisation and surrender. Isn’t it wonderful when we discover we don’t have to carry a burden any longer, but HE can? Praying that you’d continue to walk freely and unburdened, knowing Jesus has taken it all. He is strong enough to shoulder anything. Be blessed today…
I’m glad we’re friends too 🙂
PS Your post caused me to remember my Uncle Joe — a garbage man — who had one of the biggest hearts ever and contributed to many good memories from my childhood.
That’s awesome… I’m glad you can remember Uncle Joe and his big heart with fondness x
Thank you for sharing. Yes he gently lifts every burden that we give to Him and patiently waits for us to give Him those we are still trying to carry on our own!
Amen! I’m so grateful he’s the great Burden Lifter!
What an awesome metaphor! I like to watch garbage trucks, too, as they take over my alley and make all the “stuff of life” go away never to be seen again. But not once have I ever looked at Jesus and garbage trucks in the same light.
I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Blessings!
Hehe, glad I’m not the only one that finds it strangely therapeutic. Thanks Lizzy!
That and street sweepers! :p
I count it all rubbish save for the knowledge of Christ and Him crucified.
Yes 🙂
well, not everything is rubbish…but taxes, bills, rent notices…and other things that will someday be worthless garbage.
Beautifully illustrated!
Thanks Patti!
What a great post! So well written and true. Keep up the good work. Have you checked out my Christian blog? – rcghub.wordpress.com
Thanks James! I’ve followed you now.
Thank you all. arigatougozaimasu 仲良きことは美しき哉 i.e. Love each other, as that is the beautiful thing for us all to do so. Kingdom of God shall be found in ourselves. 十
Very thoughtful and uplifting post.
Thank you!
Thanks for following. Interesting site you have here.
Hello God Girl,
Nice metaphor! I won’t quite look at garbage the same. I like the idea of an “outbox” for worry and fear…well done. There’s also recycling and steps to reduce the actual garbage you produce. 🙂
Cheers,
Mark
Thanks Mark! God is a great ‘outbox’.
And yes, I’m sure we could all cut down on our actual waste too!