The air was stale as evening intruded on the bustling daylight. Perspiration filled any path as city streets emptied theirs. How could it be so hot at evenings entrance? How could there not be air conditioning to ease the rough edge of intensity? This is July in North Africa's largest tourist city.

My room this night was on the second floor. As I stood by the window watching the city fold up for the evening, my attention was drawn to a street sweeper... a garbage collector. His mule drawn wagon boasted of the aromatic refuse left behind by his cities visitors from that day. This lone man had charge of clearing this busy alleyway of it's funk.

He was emptying one more load of trash into his wagon when from it, something caught his eye. He retrieved it, sniffed it, then began to eat. My reaction was repulsion. My stomach was threatening to empty its contents.

In a world which has much, but offers him little, in a city containing the highest number of visitors in his country, his poverty cries out in contrast to their wealth. Here he has discovered a means of survival. This is how he lives.

It is hard for us to comprehend, yet it is not given a second thought in his mind. He ate this day!

There is much we could do with what we assure others is nothing. In our quest to compare ourselves to others in our own society, we fail to realize how great our wealth is. The world around us is starving, and we retreat to air conditioned comfort and plan our next trip to "Frolicland."

How often in our own lives do we fail to realize we are ingesting garbage. We have the "Bread of Life," yet seek to feast on crumbs from the 'upper crust.' We must have what they have. We deserve it. We've earned it!

When I was 16 and employed as a dishwasher at a restaurant, I developed a routine I am not proud of. You see I love cheesecake! At that point in my life, they had the best I'd ever tasted. I loved visiting there with family and being treated to this scrumptious dessert. It was one of the reasons I sought employment there. You know, the idea of fringe benefits? Free cheesecake.

As the dishwasher, the busboys would bring me the bounty from cleared tables. My job was to deposit the scraps and cleanse the china. I found that it was pretty common for patrons to leave part of their cheesecake. This yummy delight would find its way to my humid domain. I felt it was my obligation to make the best of that which their hard earned money had been expended.

I cut away the portion their fork had tainted, inhaled the remainder, all while scooting the dishes through the washer!

Yes, it is disgusting. I was 16. I loved cheesecake. I still love cheesecake. I still find it necessary to help my wife or children clear their plates of delectable delights. BJ was my foe at this. He too, loved cheesecake. It was one of the few desserts he would eat. We would do battle over who got to "assist" our family members in "cleaning their plates."

We live in a society of surplus. Our expectations come at the expense of those who can only dream. We can offer them much. We can replace 'garbage' with Truth. We can even feed them in the process. A shift in our priorities is necessary. We cannot afford the "Let them eat cake" mentality. They are our responsibility. We who have much, need to give up some, so others may eat and be full, so others may know Him!

Let us come to the end of justification for gratification and extend beyond our borders for the sake of Him who gave all.

dad


Deanna and I head to Snellville, Georgia this weekend to share at FBC in their Sunday 5pm service. We would appreciate your prayer support for this body as they hear our journey, and that the Lord would move in their hearts as He sees fit.