Humility and the Garbageman

"If we would be blessed (happy), then it is for us to follow Christ in His humility."

Bob Perks once worked for a short time going door to door, taking surveys. During once visit as he began his introduction the young woman interrupted him...

“Would you like a glass of cold water? You look like you’ve had a rough day.”

“Why yes!” He said eagerly.

As she returned with the water, her husband came walking in the front door.

“Joe, this man is here to do a survey.”

They may not have had material wealth, but these two were richer than most people. They had a powerful love. The kind of love that keeps your head up when things are looking down. “Joe works for the borough.” she said.

“What do you do?” Bob asked.

She jumped right in not letting him answer. “Joe collects garbage. You know I’m so proud of him. You see Bob, Joe is the best garbage man in the borough. He can stack more garbage on the truck than anyone else. He gets so much in one truck that they don’t have to make as many runs.,” she said with such passion.

“In the long run,” Joe continued, “I save the borough money. Man hours are down and the cost per truck is less.”

Bob didn’t know what to say. “That’s incredible! Most people would gripe about a job like that. It certainly is a difficult one. But your attitude about it is amazing.”

Joe's wife continued, “When we had our third child Joe lost his job. We were on unemployment for a time and then eventually welfare. He couldn’t find work any where. Then one day he was sent on an interview here in this community. They offered him the job he now holds. He came home depressed and ashamed. Telling me this was the best he could do. It actually paid less than we got on welfare.”

“I have always been proud of him and always will be. You see I don’t think the job makes the man. I believe the man makes the job!”

“We needed to live in the borough in order to work here. So we rented this home.” Joe said. “When we moved in, this quote was hanging on the wall just inside the front door.”

It said: If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep the streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.' - Martin Luther King

(Bob Perks Copyright 2001. Used with permission)

If we would be blessed (happy), then it is for us to follow Christ in His humility. This means putting God and the needs of our brothers and sisters ahead of everything else.

Poor in spirit, clean of heart, a peacemaker, merciful and mournful, meek, and a seeker of justice, these are the qualities of a humble person.

Pax vobiscum
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lawrence Klimecki, MSA, is a deacon in the Diocese of Sacramento. He is a public speaker, writer, and artist, reflecting on the intersection of art and faith and the spiritual “hero’s journey” that is part of every person’s life. He maintains a blog at www.DeaconLawrence.org and can be reached at Lawrence@deaconlawrence.com