By Linda Wegner
While strolling through the mall I chatted with one of the security staff and mentioned to him that one of the 鈥減arking lot regulars鈥� had accidently dumped his load of cans and bottles. His response both surprised and blessed me, wishing now I鈥檇 gone over and helped pick up the mess.
Over the months I鈥檝e seen Joe (not his real name) near the city bus terminal and assumed he was in need of extra cash, a situation not all that uncommon. He always sits on a chair beside several grocery carts furnished with huge plastic bags, room enough for lots of empty cans and bottles. I鈥檝e also wondered how he got so many on a daily basis and how come he was allowed to be there, not far from the entrance to one of our city鈥檚 shopping malls.
Not only that, I was always surprised by the number of people who drove up each morning to deposit their cans and bottles with him. As it turns out, this gentleman鈥檚 dedication to collecting, sorting and selling his 鈥渕erchandise鈥� has nothing to do with his personal betterment.
鈥淣o,鈥� the security guy told me, 鈥淛oe collects those things until noon, then he goes and has lunch. After that he takes the cans and bottle to the recycle place, sells them and with the money he gets, he purchases gift cards to distribute to single moms and/or others in need. He鈥檚 back at it again the next morning.鈥�
Shortly after that conversation I boarded the bus for the ride home. During those quiet moments I found myself both taken aback by my assumptions about him but all the while praising God for the myriad ways in which we can serve Him.
鈥淕od has given each of you a gift鈥�. Use [it] well to serve one another.鈥� 1 Peter 4:10
