Law of the Garbage Truck

This metaphor came in a recent email. Thought it had a good message.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.

We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car sped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy; and I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? That idiot almost ruined your car and could have sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxidriver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage -- full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The taxi driver showed me by example that one key to a stress-free life is to not let garbage trucks determine your happiness.

What happens to you may not be your choice. What you do about it is.

American religious leader Mary Baker Eddy, explained it another way, "Love meeting no response, but still remaining love."

Stress relief

An office worker urgently needed a few days off work, but realized the Boss would never give him time off. So he hung upside-down from the ceiling in his office and made squeaking noises.

His equally over-worked co-worker asked what he was doing.

He explained that he was pretending to be a light bulb, so, that the boss might think he was crazy and give him a few days off.

A few minutes later the boss came into the office and asked, "What in the world are you doing?"

He told him he was a light bulb.

The boss said, "You are clearly stressed out." Go home and recuperate for a couple of days."

The man jumped down and walked out of the office. When his co-worker followed him, the boss asked her, "And where do you think you're going?"

She said, "I'm going home too. I can't work in the dark."

____________________________

There is a deeper peace than pretending to be a light bulb, that transcends pressure. It's found by connecting with the higher Authority -- God, Allah, Goodness, Truth.

Peace is discovering life is not all about us. Life is about serving this greater Authority; peace is finding that unselfishness is natural to us.

Intelligent caring about others yields peace. Then, either circumstances change, or we leave for something more suitable.

Creative reminder

Location: Will County, southwest of Chicago.

On the corner of 191st and LaGrange Road this morning, drivers honked cheerfully.

A man and woman were working the intersection next to the White Castle. He carried a large sign. She waved at the vehicles. Motorists driving past, honked and waved.

The couple waved back and pointed to those who honked with “Yes!” gestures.

Were they wearing reflective vests? Collecting money for some cause? The usual?

No. That wasn’t it. The sign they carried had a horizontal
M E R R Y, and a vertical C H R I S T M A S.

Somebody exercised their creativity in constructing this reminder, and their good-will in standing on a busy street corner.

It was their counterstatement to the marketing of Christmas, to remember that:

Christ -- God's universal expression of love, peace and goodwill (BTW, not shopping) -- is indeed, as church billboards remind, the Reason for this Season.

23rd Psalm at Christmas Time

A carved shepherd tenderly carries

a lost sheep back to the fold

A friend sent this email, saying it helps her combat the bombardment of commercialism at this time of year.

The Lord sets my pace;

I will not rush.

He makes me to stop for quiet intervals;

He provides me with images of stillness

which restore my serenity.

He leads me in the ways of His purpose

through calmness of mind,

His guidance is safe and peaceful.

Even though there are many things to accomplish

I will not fret

for His presence is here.

His timelessness, His goodness

Keeps me in balance.

He prepares refreshment and renewal

in the midst of many demands.

He anoints my mind with His oil of tranquility

My cup overflows with renewed joy.

Surely harmony and good purpose

shall be the fruits of my hours;

And I will walk in the dependable rhythm of the Lord

And dwell in His house forever.

"Now" vs Jet Lag

A mosaic in Berea where both Jews and Greeks

received what Paul had to say AND

Paul really did speak from steps

like those in the mosaic

Time is a funny thing, an arbitrary measurement, sometimes useful, sometimes a pressure cooker. Yet is it time that builds pressure, or is it how we relate to the ticks and tocks of our day?

Here’s a splendid application for managing time. One of our travel hosts on my recent trip following Paul’s footsteps in Greece, explained helpfully, “As soon as I get on the plane, I set my watch to the time of the place where I am going. And I think and act according to the time it is there.”

My sister had advised, “Don’t even think in terms of ‘If I were home I’d be having breakfast, or sleeping, or whatever.’ Live in the now.”

What a practical two-step antidote for jet lag. 1. Set your watch for where you are going and think and act according to the time it is there. 2. Live in the now.

It worked well for all 26 of us on the tour, so far as I know.

We can refuse to be the victim of “time” in other ways too. When I first discovered this some years ago, I was late for something that seemed important and the temptation was to lean heavy on the pedal and zip through traffic to try to be not-too-late. It occurred to me that instead of being a traffic hazard by driving as though only I was important, I could consciously both slow down and pray.

Have you ever tried to break a hurry-hurry habit? It isn’t always easy. What came to me as I prayed was that I was exactly where God wanted me to be – expressing His qualities of thoughtfulness, patience, and trust in the one Mind to be in control. When hurrying, I was trying to be in control. By slowing down, I was trusting God’s timing.

I agreed to let God be in control, and prayed for the harmony, safety, and good judgment of all on the road. Sure enough upon arrival, I was the first one at the meeting – others had been delayed as well. And this same sort of calm trust in God’s timing has yielded similar results time after time.

Paul lived in the now. He advised forgetting the past and setting goals and moving toward those goals. His personal goal was letting God direct his life for God’s own good purpose. If he had had a watch, I think Paul would have set it for “Now.”

By the way, for those who may be interested, this tour was hosted and led by http://www.biblicaltravels.com/

Stress - what can we do about it?

Traffic at night

We pretty much know what things cause, and indicate, stress. A traffic light turns green and somebody honks because the first vehicle did not immediately take off. I'm not proud to say I've been both those drivers. Maybe you have too.

How can we not be a victim of stress?

I've found that taking all my concerns to God as the one Mind helps a lot. It's good to sit back and have a conversation with this one good Mind. I tend to think of God as Father and Mother, so I might ask, "Father-Mother, here's this anxious thing going on in my life, and I don't know what to do about it. What do you say? What should I be doing here?"

And when I really want to hear what God is telling me, He/She does. It's mostly about learning to be a good listener. I've also learned that a good listener listens, he doesn't do most of the talking.

A dear friend was in the hospital recently, and I spent quite a bit of time with her concerned family, unti the crisis passed. It was a time for listening. Every report, good or bad, I took straight to God. Here are some assurances I heard, "I am the only Life, and my vital signs are very stable. Matter doesn't give life or take it away. I am the Life of all being. There is no other life."

I was comforted by these assurances and, while not voicing them, was able to comfort and support the family, until they were told by a caring medical staff that all was well.

It's easier to be patient and considerate behind the wheel too, when I remember that my purpose in driving is to help all God's children on that same road feel His love.

Patience most valued

Dealing with stress -- Excellent discussion. Allow yourself some time -- 45 minutes.
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