The other day, whilst walking through what is unquestionably a breathtakingly beautiful part of this world, it came to mind how blessed we all are to have been given the opportunities we've been given.
There was a slight, misting rain falling, gently watering the lush green landscape and surrounding forest. The air was fresh, the birds were singing and the views through the trees were nothing short of spectacular. It was easy, for a moment, to forget about all of the evil we are awash in on a daily basis, and simply focus on the natural beauty. What an amazing gift to be currently deployed to such a magnificent place!
It was then that Father directed my focus downward, to see the garbage that thoughtless, selfish humans decided to pitch out of their cars alongside the road. Bags, candy wrappers, plastic bottles, soda cans, masks, etc. thrown out as if this otherwise beautiful area was somehow meant to be their personal garbage can.
What in the hell we call Earth is wrong with people?
Is it really too much trouble to find a garbage can/bin and put the garbage/rubbish there? Can people really not be troubled to keep a bag in their car to store garbage/rubbish until they can find a place to properly dispose of it?
Having only one garbage bag handy, it was gladly filled to overflowing with these evil people's trash for the next part of the walk. But why is any of that even necessary? And how long will it be before what was picked up is replaced with even more litter?
This is happening all over the world. Having traveled to some of the poorer parts of northern Mexico many years ago, it was possible to witness firsthand what happens in areas where central trash collection isn't available. Barb-wire fences become plastic barriers, with plastic milk jugs, plastic bread bags and plastic wrappers everywhere. The people literally wade through plastic trash to get from point A to point B, and have grown accustomed to doing so. Children play in it. Discarded automobile tires are used as a form of erosion control to protect make-shift housing made out of plywood road-signs, cinder-blocks and bed-sheets from washing down the hillside during the next rain.
Much of this plastic trash is created with the specific intention of it being immediately thrown away. Think of all of the NEEDLESS plastic packaging we have accepted as commonplace, because we're too lazy or unwilling to bring our own glass bottles or sacks to be refilled with fresh supplies. It's sickening. It's as if we won't be satisfied until we've turned the entire world into one giant mound of slop. Planet pigsty.
Father has specifically and graciously warned us all that He WILL destroy them which destroy the Earth (Rev. 11:18). Why don't people believe Him? Or do they simply not care?
The next time you go to the store, think about bringing your own bags before you go. Do whatever you can to reduce the amount of garbage you actually make. Recycle everything you can if you have the facilities to do so. If you see someone else pitch something on the ground, tell them to pick it up. It says in Scripture that people really should have their hand cut-off for doing such a thing (Matt. 5:30).
Please THINK about what you're doing. And please encourage others to do the same. This is a beautiful world, which we were given temporary stewardship over as a test. How do you think we are doing?
