Every Litter Bit Helps
Turning into the church parking lot, I saw him running along with bag in hand. He would run a few steps, stop, bend over, pick something up, stuff it into his bag and off he’d go.
“What is he doing?” I CONSIDERED as I parked my car. “Maybe he is picking up aluminum cans. No, there can’t be that many.” Getting out of my car, my curiosity got the best of me. I walked over to him, now directly in front of our church building. He was picking up what appeared to be scraps of paper.
“Hi. How are you?” I said. He looked up and smiled. I then proceeded to ask him what he was doing. This is what he told me: He began running a while ago for the exercise. It was then that he discovered all the litter that lined our highways. Each run, he’d see the same litter, and more litter and it didn’t seem as though anyone was going to pick it up. So he decided to carry a bag when he ran and pick up the litter as he went along. “I did my share of littering,” he said. “I just want to do my part cleaning it up.”
Walking back to my office I CONSIDERED how there is litter which clutters our highways and parks; such things as empty cans, bottles, candy wrappers and nasty cigarette butts. There is also the litter that clutters the mind and spirit; things like ugly rumors, unkind words, jealousy, anger, critical attitudes and negative thinking. This we cannot see but it pollutes and kills the human spirit as surely as toxic waste pollutes our lakes and streams and kills the wildlife.
I also CONSIDERED how we too can carry a bag with us as we journey through life. Each time we see the things which litter the spirit of another; we can pick it up and stuff it into our bag. We pick up hatred and stuff it into our bag with love; we pick up ugly rumors with truth. Hopefully, by journey’s end, we’ll have a bag full of litter we can properly dispose of.
Remember, picking up every “litter bit” helps!
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path.” (Proverbs 23: 17-19)
Rev. Wendell Mettey
1/22/1991
Revised 3/2013
