Every Monday is “trash day”.

Over the past year or so my wife has made it a habit with my little girl to go out on the porch and watch the trash truck come and wave at the men who are working in the cold, heat or rain.

I have noticed that on Monday afternoons the trash can is often at the house but not in the correct place.  My wife is OCD about things being in their place so I had to see what was up.

When I asked her she said, “oh, that’s because the “trash man with the hat and a smile” always brings it up for us.  She then explained that every week she and Isabelle wave at the men and say good morning and that they always honk the horn and raise the lift and lower it for Isabelle.  Then the “trash man with the hat and a smile” comes with a big grin, brings the can to the house and offers to let Isabelle ride in the truck (she has not accepted – I would).

As I heard this story I thought about this quote from the introduction of “200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One” (BUY A COPY ON 8-8-08 TO SPREAD THE WORD)

“We will come to understand how we too can create something beautiful in the eyes of God simply by being the best parent, coach, teacher, welder, pastor, accountant, spouse, trash collector, (fill in your position here) that we can be”

Our trash collector is carving pomegranates and keeping us clean.
I hope that people will some day refer to me as the “Pastor with a smile and a hat”. (the smile I need to work on – the hat will be a Gamecocks hat)