Trashy Neighbors

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." ~Leviticus 19:18


Every time I drive down the roads in my neighborhood, they are strewn with trash. I'm constantly distracted by the espresso cups floating in the frogs pond and the plastic water bottles riding the streams into the creek that the herd of deer drink from. Even the trees seem resolved to have beer can encrusted roots. They droop sadly towards the creek on the hillside while the ferns struggle to push through plastic bags. Nothing irritates me as much as someone who litters. I began to hold a grudge against the people polluting their own neighborhoods. I began to want revenge against those trashy neighbors who could possibly be that selfish. I began to pray for them: Especially the one that drinks Icehouse beer and eats cup-of-noodle soup. Grrrr....


Revelation struck one day as I was driving and grumbling to the Lord about the garbage. The Lord said, "You do it. Love your neighbor as yourself" It was clear that it was a conviction as in "you've littered too" and a command as in, "show me your love for your neighbors. Pick it up". After stalling a few days I grabbed my walking stick and a trash bag and began picking up all those offensive scraps of plastic and foam on the side of the road. I spent the time praying for the families that live in the houses on the other side of the path of trash.  I realized it truly is a tangible way for me to love my neighbors as myself. Now when I drive down the road, I scope out the next stretch that needs to be freed from the rubbish and praise God for how beautiful it will be!


Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself."'