Garbage Truck Law

Don't waste your day by letting someone else's trash spoil it. Remember the law of the garbage truck.

Have you heard of Garbage Truck Law? I heard this anonymous story about a man who hopped in a taxi and took off for the airport. They were driving along when suddenly a car backed out of a parking space right in front of them.

The taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and barely missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car rolled down his window and started yelling and shaking his fist at the taxi.

Then something amazing happened. Instead of road rage, the taxi driver just smiled and calmly waved at the guy. He wasn't mad even a bit.

His passenger asked, "Why did you do that? That guy almost smashed your car and sent us both to the hospital!"

That's when the taxi driver taught him, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They go around full of trash: anger, disappointment, frustration and negativity. As their garbage piles up more and more, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally, he said. Just smile, wish them well, and move on. Be sure that you don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or anyone else.

Now that's an amazing insightful lesson. It sounds like a restated version ofwhat your Bible teaches about the right reaction to this kind of rubbish. You know it, it says:"Love your neighbor as you love yourself. If you obey this law, you are doing right." (James 2:8NCV)

You see, the bottom line is that godly people don't let garbage trucks take over their day. It's easy to love the people who treat you right. Now, be sure to pray for the ones who don't.Jesus understood how to take out the trash as he instructed us: "to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you." (Luke 6:27-28 NCV)

So don't waste your day by letting someone else's trash spoil it. Remember the law of the garbage truck.